Travel by rail almost immediately after the invention of the locomotive was the fastest way to overcome distances and this situation lasted for over a century.Only in the XX century, which has become the era of the automobile and aviation, this superiority was challenged.But engineering thought is not standing still, and modern express trains, which are used in the construction of many aerospace technologies, today may well compete in swiftness with other modes of transport.
race on trains
Terms of rivalry is expressed in different ways, including in an effort to create the fastest train in the world.Leadership in this race last decades divide Japan, France and Germany, but the rapid development of industrial and scientific base in Asian countries gives reason to believe that China and South Korea will soon challenge the traditional producers.In addition to the economic viability, the answer to the question of what the train is the fastest, determines the trade and even political prestige of the state, just as in the middle of the XX century, world leaders worried the space priority.The similarity is enhanced technological saturation of the newest rail projects.
Technical problems and their solutions
any ground speed of the vehicle is limited by high levels of friction, air resistance, and safety factors.All three of these circumstances are fundamentally insurmountable noise, but it does not mean that their impact can not be reduced.Aircraft manufacturers gained experience in creating aerodynamic shapes, monorail and magnetic levitation technology - these are the main ways in which the creators have gone modern railways.High-speed trains provide for their operation on a normal railroad tracks or other specially laid overpasses.Scientific breakthrough in the field of the physics of magnetism created the conditions for the application of the latest technologies to literally fly over the rails.
new Japanese track
before the Tokyo Olympics in 1964 was created the world's fastest train for delivering visitors to sports facilities.The name "Shinkansen" is translated from Japanese as "a new track," the amount of which was carried out along the continental standard.The speed is impressive, at that time it was fantastic.In some places the train developed 270 km / h, allowing you to get to Osaka in three hours.The project turned out to be quite expensive, but paid off in three years.The main challenge was to create a high-precision railroad tracks, but there were other technical problems that have received the original decision.
Competition Japanese and French
speed record in the early seventies beat the French.TGV train travels at a speed of over 330 km / h, which is currently considered to be the norm for this type of transport.But it turned out that the Japanese project «Shinkansen» has important technical characteristics of any technical system, namely, the modification potential.The possibility of its perfection allowed to retain the championship.The absolute world record of 581 km / h, this parameter causes another informal name Shinkansen "bullet".Today, almost half a century after the beginning of movement on the line of the Osaka-Tokyo, is the world's fastest train.
What the French have succeeded?
Despite the considerable age (he was commissioned in 1971), the French "Grand Vitesse» TGV firmly holds second place.But, like the athletes, trains perform in different categories.In 2007, this miracle of technology accelerate to a record speed of nearly 575 km / h.This value is inferior to the achievement of the Japanese counterpart, but the fact that the magnetic suspension design model TGV POS is not used.Thus, the French express train - the world's fastest train, moving on conventional rails.There is another feature at this unique vehicle: its length - nearly 400 meters.This is the biggest train in the world in tonnage among speed.
Chinese 'German »
flights Passengers arriving at the Shanghai airport can reach the city in a few minutes.Right in the terminal is the last stop train "maglev."Getting off trapa- "bunching" and followed by a huge terminal building, arrivals come in the car, its interior does not differ from the transcontinental jetliner: the same aircraft seats, and even pretty stewardesses.The nearest metro station is more than 30 kilometers, it overcomes this train about seven minutes.The scoreboard installed above the entrance door, you can keep track of a speed greater than it is after the dispersal of 500 km / h in the afternoon.At night express is moving slightly slower (430 km / h), this is due to security concerns.As the name implies, the friction force designers to overcome the magnetic levitation.It should be noted that, despite its Chinese «residence», Shanghai Maglev Train has German roots.It was created in Germany, specialists of Transrapid, which developed and other high-speed trains in the world.Model SMT, which became the basis of the Shanghai "Maglev", finalized in accordance with the wishes of the customer.The fare at this miracle of technology is quite democratic - 40 yuan, which is about five US dollars.
And what we have?
Russian advances in high-speed rail is characterized by modesty.250 km / h, which develops the "Sapsan", has recently seemed fantastic result, but on the background of the achievements of the leading manufacturers it is not impressive.Moreover, despite the Russian name, it has a foreign origin, made in Germany, the world-famous company Siemens.The top ten this Express plying between St. Petersburg and Moscow, was not included.It is not known whether in the near future, Russian designers try to create the world's fastest train.Development costs of rolling-stock high, but related infrastructure will cost much more.However, Russia remains a great power rail, and the total length of routes, and the volume of transported goods, and passenger traffic.So time will tell.
