A model of the aerotrain. [Photo: people.cn]
A high-speed aerotrain that could run 400 to 500 kilometers per hour is being developed by China and Japan in a joint effort, Chinese media Chongqing Morning Post reported.
据《重庆晨报》报道，中日两国正在合力研发一种时速可达400-500公里的高速气动悬浮列车。
对外公布的这款高速气动悬浮列车(high-speed aerotrain)模型长一米多，子弹头车头似高铁列车，车身则有环形翼(annular wing)和气流推进器(airflow propeller)，又跟飞机有些相似。
重庆理工大学领衔参与高速气动悬浮列车研发的教授赖晨光介绍，这样的高速气动悬浮列车，完全采用自然能源驱动(fully powered by natural energy)，使用成本低，速度还非常快。
If the train runs at a speed of 500 km/h, the energy it consumes is only 1/3 of that consumed by current high-speed trains, and 1/6 of the maglev trains.
如果以时速500公里为前提，气动悬浮列车的能耗是高铁的1/3、磁悬浮列车的1/6。
Trial manufacturing and test runs of the first and second generation aerotrain have been conducted in Japan.
高速气动悬浮列车第一代、第二代样式试制及实车试验已经在日本完成。
根据规划，日本将于2025年开通第一条高速气动悬浮列车线路(the first high-speed aerotrain line)。接下来，中日团队将基于新设计的“LOOP”造型，为其配备阻燃性的镁合金车身(train body made of magnesium alloy)并开展更加深入的试验研究与验证。
【相关词汇】
磁悬浮列车 maglev train
高铁列车 high-speed train
动车 bullet train
悬挂式单轨列车 mounted monorail train
跨座式单轨列车 straddle-beam monorail line
无轨列车 virtual rail line
轻轨列车 light rail train
无人驾驶地铁列车 unmanned subway trains
城际高铁 intercity high-speed rail
交通强国 a country with strong transportation network
铁路营运里程 mileage of operational railway
