China's experimental maglev train hits record 497 mph in just 5.3 seconds

[Redaktion]

China's experimental maglev vehicle reached 497 mph in 5.3 seconds in a recent trial, setting a new record and coming closer to commercial airline speeds. This follows earlier runs that reached 404 mph in June and 433 mph in July.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/China-s-experimental-maglev-train-hits-record-497-mph-in-just-5-3-seconds.1366845.0.html

[Goldstein]

The picture is misleading. A 2,500-pound craft is not a train. It is smaller and lighter than a SUV car.

[Ken Langr]

The article is confusing.  I have some doubts that the correct units are being stated.  Is the top speed achieved in 5 seconds, or for 5 seconds?  If the previous, the article is about rapid acceleration, but most passengers on such a train would be hurt during the rapid acceleration.  If it is about maintaining a high speed for 5 seconds, that makes more sense, but then the preposition for instead of in should be used.  If this is a scale demonstrator, that would make sense, but then say that the experiment shows that a train 1000 times heavier is feasible and could sustain that speed.  You must explain the need for 100 mph per second acceleration which would kill some people is a good thing.