An experimental bullet train in China broke its own world record for acceleration, going from zero to 800km an hour in about five seconds, potentially paving the way for ultra-high-speed transportation.

The hefty maglev train accelerated to 800km an hour from rest in just 5.3 seconds on a 1km test-track at the Donghu Laboratory in Hubei province.

Maglev trains use magnetic force to lift the entire train slightly above the tracks, removing associated friction, while a magnetic wave generated by coils around the tracks drives the vehicle forward.

Chinese researchers showed the train could not only reach extreme speeds, but also come to a controlled stop with its braking system.

After zooming from zero to 800km per hour, the train came to a smooth stop, gradually over a span of about 200m.

It was the third time in six months that the same train had broken the world record for short-distance maglev acceleration.

The 1.1-tonne train was first tested in June 2025, when it reached about 650km an hour in seven seconds, creating a world record. The maglev broke its own record in subsequent tests, achieving accelerations to about 700km an hour and 798km an hour while considerably reducing the time.

Through each of the trial runs, researchers pushed several critical technologies to their limits including high-power energy delivery, electromagnetic propulsion, high-speed levitation control, and emergency braking, national broadcaster CCTV reported.

Maglev trains currently in operation across China and Japan run at about 320km per hour. The world’s fastest commercial maglev train, the Fuxing rail in China, achieves a top speed of 350km an hour.

Researchers at China’s National University of Defence Technology are also building ultra-high-speed maglev trains, with one of their tests achieving an acceleration of 697km an hour in just two seconds.

While the technology in its current stage is not meant for transporting humans, researchers hope the underlying principles will eventually lead to launch systems for rockets and fighter jets.

Chinese scientists are also developing similar ultra-high-speed maglev technology to operate trains inside low-pressure or vacuum tubes.

However, these too face several challenges, including infrastructure costs, passenger safety and the construction of precision-aligned tracks over long distances.