The　levitation　control　system　is　a　critical　subsystem　in　maglev　trains,　ensuring　stable　levitation　of　the　train　on　the　guideway.　Achieving　stable　levitation　requires　providing　the　system　with　accurate　levitation　gap　and　corresponding　velocity　data　while　minimizing　phase　lag.　This　work　proposes　an　enhanced　tracking　differentiator　(TD)　to　reduce　phase　lag　in　both　filtering　and　differentiation　of　input　signals　with　varying　noise　levels.　The　improved　performance　is　achieved　by　incorporating　system　damping　and　an　amplitude　factor　into　the　control　algorithm　used　to　design　the　differentiator.　Theoretical　analysis　guarantees　the　convergence　of　the　proposed　algorithm.　Simulations　and　experiments　conducted　on　the　levitation　gap　data　demonstrate　the　superior　performance　of　the　proposed　TD　in　reducing　phase　lag　for　both　filtered　and　differentiated　signals.　Furthermore,　experimental　results　highlight　the　improved　performance　of　the　feedback　controller　when　employing　the　proposed TD.　©　2024　The　Author(s).　IET　Control　Theory　&　Applications　published　by　John　Wiley　&　Sons　Ltd　on　behalf　of　The　Institution　of　Engineering　and　Technology.