Maglev Train

Shanghai Transrapid is the first commercial high-speed maglev line in the world. The system and trains were built to the Transrapid standard. Construction began in March 2001, and public service commenced on 1 January 2004. The Shanghai Maglev Train line runs from Longyang Road station in Pudong, on the Shanghai subway line 2 to Pudong International Airport. The journey takes 7 minutes and 20 seconds to complete the distance of 30 km on the Shanghai Magnetic Levitation Demonstration Operation Line. A train can reach 350 km/h (220 mph) in 2 minutes, with the maximum normal operation speed of 431 km/h (268 mph) reached thereafter. During a test run on 12 November 2006, a maglev vehicle achieved a Chinese record speed of 501 km/h (311 mph).

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