• Temperature and scale ratio significantly influence the timing of shock wave generation during acceleration, altering aerodynamic drag.
• At constant speed, these parameters affect the onset of choked flow and its length, impacting drag.
• During braking, variations in temperature and scale ratio change the timing of shock wave disappearance and expansion wave reflections, affecting drag reduction.
• The study provides insights for optimizing vacuum tube maglev system design and safety by controlling environmental and geometric parameters.