Japan Tests Its Own Hover Train

The Central Japan Railway Company is testing a magnetically levitating train that can go up to 311 mph (500km/h). That’s more than twice the speed of the fastest bullet train currently operating in the United States.

The train’s maglev technology reduces friction and helps them go faster than your average speeding bullet train. Shanghai, China also uses maglev train technology. This train can go 268 mph at top operational speed, but has been clocked at 311 mph before.

The first passengers hopped on board the Shinkansen train test track in Yamanashi Prefecture to test out what it’s like to float along at breakneck speeds.

According to the BBC, The Central Japan Railway Company will be testing the trains over eight days, with a total of 2,400 passengers.

The trains will eventually run from Tokyo to Nagoya by 2027. The trip will take about 40 minutes between stations.