Việt Nam chọn công nghệ nào trong 3 loại hình đường sắt tốc độ cao trên thế giới?

Research results show that in the world, high-speed railways have 3 types of technology: Technology running on rails, speed of about 200-350km/h; technology running on magnetic levitation, speed of about 500-580km/h; technology running in tubes, speed up to about 1,200km/h. With technology running in tubes, up to now, it is still in the research process and no country has exploited it commercially.

Typical types of high-speed railways in the world.

High-speed rail runs on rails in the same basic principle as traditional railways but is developed with more precise technology and techniques. This type of technology was developed and put into operation in 1964 in Japan, and is currently being developed in many countries around the world, especially in China in the last 2 decades. Rail-based railway technology has been tested to ensure safety; investment costs are at an average level; and it has the ability to connect conveniently with the railway network.

In addition to reliability and efficiency, high-speed rail runs on rails also conveniently connect with existing railways and is being researched to maximize operating speed. China is building a second high-speed railway connecting Beijing - Shanghai with a design speed of 380km/h.

According to statistics from the International Railway Union (UIC), by 2023, 22 countries and territories will own high-speed railways with a length of about 59,421km, choosing rail-based railways for investment and exploitation (expected to double in the next 30 years) and are researching and developing to increase maximum speed. This technology has shown high reliability, safety and transport efficiency over the past 60 years.

Magnetic levitation technology (Maglev): Operates on the principle that the train is lifted, guided and moved by magnetic or electromagnetic force. Magnetic levitation technology has high investment costs and limited application capabilities.

Maglev trains can reach speeds comparable to aircraft using propeller or jet engines; that is, up to about 500km/h to 580km/h. This type has been researched since 1968 in the US. After a series of safety incidents, only 3 countries are currently operating at a modest distance (about 30-50km).

Specifically, in China, there is the Shanghai Transrapid line in 2004; Japan has the low-speed Linimo line to serve the World Expo in 2005 and Korea has the Incheon Airport Maglev line in 2016, which is currently operating commercially at a very modest distance. Currently, Japan is building a 290km magnetic levitation railway line (from Tokyo to Nagoya) with an investment cost (in 2021) of about 6.4 billion USD, equivalent to about 220 million USD/km.

Hyperloop technology: Using vacuum tubes, helping the vehicle move inside at high speeds due to the absence of air resistance. The investment cost of the tube technology is very high, is being researched and tested, and needs time for actual construction and verification before it can be applied.

To increase the speed, this type of high-speed train has been researched and tested in an environment that completely eliminates air resistance (running in a vacuum tube). The test speed reached 1200km/h. However, the investment cost is very high, and it is still in the research process and no country has yet commercially exploited it.

Through research on high-speed railway technology in the world, it can be seen that, up to now, most of the above countries have chosen high-speed railway running on rails because of the level of reliability, efficiency, convenient connection to the railway network and are researching to maximize the operating speed. In Vietnam, based on the level of reliability, efficiency, ability to master technology, and experience of countries around the world, the consulting consortium recommended choosing rail-based railway technology for the North-South high-speed railway project.