China announces plans to build a 2,500mph train to rival the Hyperloop
When people looked into the future they saw faster more efficient planes that made trains obsolete, but the tables look like they're starting to turn.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2017) 'China announces plans to build a 2,500mph train to rival the Hyperloop', 311 Institute, 11 September. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/china-announces-plans-to-build-a-2500mph-train/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
As the race to be the first company to build the world’s first commercial Hyperloop network, a network of Mach 1.0 levitating trains that travel in vacuum tubes, hots up, with Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT), Hyperloop One and Tesla all starting to break a sweat as they put their prototypes through their paces the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) has claimed it plans to develop the next generation of trains, which can travel at speeds of up to 2,500mph. Or is that the next, next generation of trains? Anyway…
Liu Shiquan, a deputy general manager at CASC, said their scientists would be looking to develop the super-fast trains of the future that could “fly on the ground,” and they seem to have dubbed the initiative as "T-Flight."
“The corporation has built rich experience and accumulated technological know-how through major projects, and it has the capabilities in simulation, modelling and experimentation for large-scale projects, as well as the world-class design capability for supersonic aircraft, all of which lay the important ground for the super-fast train project,” said Shiquan.
With connections to China’s defence ministry, CASC has already been involved in developing satellites, rockets and missiles, and now it looks as though plans are afoot to turn its attention on futuristic technology that’s closer to home.
China already has the largest network of high speed trains in the world, and recently they announced another $500 Billion in funding so it’s obvious that they’re keen to continue outstripping the competition.
CASC officials have said they will work with more than 20 other research institutes, both domestic and international, in the quest to create the proposed 2,500mph trains, and although the ‘flying train’ may be a way off becoming a reality another team of Chinese scientists recently announced plans to create a more down to Earth 600mph inter-city train built on the same Hyperloop concept we’re seeing across the water in the US. And as all of these technologies continue their relentless march to becoming reality you have to ask the question, in the future why would anyone want to bother getting on board a plane which increasingly looks like they’ll be the futuristic equivalent of taking the bus…
Does anyone else want to disrupt the airline and transportation industry? Take a ticket and stand in line.
What this means for your organisation
Fast rail is back in the race.
Many once expected faster planes to make trains obsolete. That view is now being tested. China already runs the largest high speed network in the world and has announced another $500 Billion in funding.
Rivals now come from outside.
CASC has built satellites, rockets and missiles, and now turns to trains. It will work with more than 20 other research institutes. Planners should expect challengers from sectors they do not watch today.
Treat the claim as a signal.
The 2,500mph train may be a way off, and a 600mph inter-city train is also planned. Plans of this kind show where research effort is heading. Track them, test your assumptions about air travel, and decide what would trigger action.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
- Which of our routes would change if ground travel became far faster?
- Who outside our sector could enter our market from a different industry?
- What signals would make us act on these plans rather than watch?
The trends and technologies behind this story
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s article and 311 data. First published on Fanatical Futurist.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
When people looked into the future they saw faster more efficient planes that made trains obsolete, but the tables look like they're starting to turn.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder, President and Futurist of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity programme, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 11 September 2017. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2017). China announces plans to build a 2,500mph train to rival the Hyperloop. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/china-announces-plans-to-build-a-2500mph-train/
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