How do maglev trains work, and could they eventually be faster than airplanes? This TED-Ed video explores the technology behind high-speed rail, from Japan’s original Shinkansen to futuristic magnetic trains that can reach speeds of hundreds of kilometers per hour.
The video explains the three major factors that allow modern high-speed trains to reach more than 300 km/h: powerful electric engines, aerodynamic designs, and specialized infrastructure featuring long, straight tracks with gentle curves and no road crossings.
Then things get even more interesting with magnetic levitation. Instead of wheels rolling along rails, maglev trains use magnetic fields to lift the train slightly above the track, eliminating wheel-to-rail friction. With enough runway, these trains could potentially reach 430 km/h or even a theoretical 600 km/h.
Of course, going ridiculously fast comes with a few problems. At 300 km/h, more than 80% of a train’s energy can be spent fighting air resistance, while building the enormous stretches of straight, carefully engineered track required for these speeds is incredibly expensive and difficult.
So, could the train of the future make airplanes look slow? Maybe. But before your next cross-country trip involves floating through a vacuum tube at 600 km/h, there are still a few engineering and financial hurdles to overcome.