The Shanghai Maglev Train was built in 2002, recognized as the ‘Fastest Commercial Train in the World’ in the Guinness Book of Records in 2003 and formally began commercial operation in the April of 2004. There are 3 countries which are operating the Maglev technology i.e., China, Japan and South Korea and the one in Shanghai is still considered the fastest in commercial operation. The project was designed by engineers under Siemens-ThyssenKrupp joint venture and the trains and engines were German built. However, track and stations construction work were carried out by local Chinese companies who had to improvise according to ground conditions for best results.
The line provides connection from Pudong International Airport to the station at Longyang Road. This is a distance of almost 30kms which the train covers in as little as 7.5 minutes; its maximum speed being an impressive 431 km/h. When it does so, the LCD inside displays the number and is often a thrilling and picture worthy moment to passengers. The ticket price is much higher when compared to the regular Shanghai metro which also has a station at Pudong airport. Fares start from RMB50 and go up to RMB120 for different classes and times of travel (kids under 1.3m can ride free when accompanied by an adult). But the time saved is worth more in certain situations and the experience is priceless. The train does not have operations 24/7, so travelers must buy tickets beforehand or be familiar with the schedule so they don’t make any unfortunate missteps in their travel plans. Always be ware of folding and handling the tickets, if they are twisted or torn, they will not remain valid.
Magnetic levitation technology, which is what maglev is short for, has a number of environmental and maintenance benefits over traditional train technology. There are little gas emissions because magnetic fields and electricity; and not fuel, is what propels the trains to their destinations. They are energy efficient and require almost 1/4th the energy need of aero planes and half that of buses. Levels of sound pollution are low, as the body of the train does not actually touch the tracks but remains suspended above it. Also because of this, wear and tear due to friction is negligible requiring less in maintenance costs. The trains have wider bodies and more stability so they can endure substantial earthquakes safely. The bigger bodies are able to accommodate a lot more passengers, allowing for a safer and more comfortable experience.
A big hindrance to wider use of the magnetic levitation technology is the huge initial cost of building tracks because of the use of rare metals and elements like scandium, yttrium, alnico and lanthanides. But as more countries move toward environmental safety measures, the utility of such projects is bound to increase, prompting for research into more cost-effective solutions which will eventually drive down costs. More Maglev projects are in process within China currently but without the high speeds credited to the Shanghai Maglev though.
The line provides connection from Pudong International Airport to the station at Longyang Road. This is a distance of almost 30kms which the train covers in as little as 7.5 minutes; its maximum speed being an impressive 431 km/h. When it does so, the LCD inside displays the number and is often a thrilling and picture worthy moment to passengers. The ticket price is much higher when compared to the regular Shanghai metro which also has a station at Pudong airport. Fares start from RMB50 and go up to RMB120 for different classes and times of travel (kids under 1.3m can ride free when accompanied by an adult). But the time saved is worth more in certain situations and the experience is priceless. The train does not have operations 24/7, so travelers must buy tickets beforehand or be familiar with the schedule so they don’t make any unfortunate missteps in their travel plans. Always be ware of folding and handling the tickets, if they are twisted or torn, they will not remain valid.
Magnetic levitation technology, which is what maglev is short for, has a number of environmental and maintenance benefits over traditional train technology. There are little gas emissions because magnetic fields and electricity; and not fuel, is what propels the trains to their destinations. They are energy efficient and require almost 1/4th the energy need of aero planes and half that of buses. Levels of sound pollution are low, as the body of the train does not actually touch the tracks but remains suspended above it. Also because of this, wear and tear due to friction is negligible requiring less in maintenance costs. The trains have wider bodies and more stability so they can endure substantial earthquakes safely. The bigger bodies are able to accommodate a lot more passengers, allowing for a safer and more comfortable experience.
A big hindrance to wider use of the magnetic levitation technology is the huge initial cost of building tracks because of the use of rare metals and elements like scandium, yttrium, alnico and lanthanides. But as more countries move toward environmental safety measures, the utility of such projects is bound to increase, prompting for research into more cost-effective solutions which will eventually drive down costs. More Maglev projects are in process within China currently but without the high speeds credited to the Shanghai Maglev though.
