Shanghai Maglev Train

The Shanghai Maglev Train or Shanghai Transrapid (simplified Chinese: 上海磁浮示范运营线; traditional Chinese: 上海磁浮示範運營線; pinyin: Shànghǎi Cífú Shìfàn Yùnyíng Xiàn; literally "Shanghai Magnetic Levitation Demonstration Operation Line") is a magnetic levitation train, or maglev line that operates in Shanghai, China. It is the first commercially operated high-speed magnetic levitation line in the world. The train line was designed to connect Shanghai Pudong International Airport and the outskirts of central Pudong where passengers could interchange to the Shanghai Metro to continue their trip to the city center.

Construction of the line began in 1 March 2001^[1] and public commercial service commenced on 1 January 2004. The top operational commercial speed of this train is 431 km/h (268 mph), making it the world's fastest train in regular commercial services since its opening in 2004, faster than TGV in France and also faster than the latest CRH conventional wheel train in China at 350 km/h (217 mph). During a non-commercial test run on 12 November 2003, a maglev train achieved a Chinese record speed of 501 km/h (311 mph).^[2] The top operational speed of 431 km/h (268 mph) is also faster than the top speed of any Formula One car.

The train set and tracks were built by Siemens. The electrification of the train was developed by VAHLE, Inc.^[3] Two commercial maglev systems had predated the Shanghai system—the Birmingham Maglev in the United Kingdom and the Berlin M-Bahn—both were low-speed operations and had closed before the opening of the Shanghai Maglev Train.

The line is often considered part of the Shanghai Metro network, although there is a separate fare system.

Background

The line runs from Longyang Road station in Pudong to Pudong International Airport; The Pudong International Airport station provides a transfer to Line 2, but the Longyang Road station provides access to Line 2 and LIne 7. At full speed, the journey takes 7 minutes and 20 seconds to complete the distance of 30 km (18.6 mi), although some trains in the early morning and late afternoon take about 50 seconds longer. A train can reach 350 km/h (217 mph) in 2 minutes, with the maximum normal operation speed of 431 km/h (268 mph) reached thereafter.

Hans-Dieter Bott, vice president of Siemens when they won the contract to build the rail link, stated that "Transrapid views the Shanghai line, where the ride will last just eight minutes, largely as a sales tool. This serves as a demonstration for China to show that this works and can be used for longer distances, such as Shanghai to Beijing".^[4] However, the decision was eventually made to implement the Beijing-Shanghai Express Railway with conventional high-speed technology, and to build maglev tracks for the shorter Shanghai-Hangzhou trip instead.

Operation

The line is operated by Shanghai Maglev Transportation Development Co., Ltd. As of May 2008^[update], the line operates daily from 6:45 AM to 9:30 PM, with services every 8 to 10 minutes. A one-way ticket costs ¥50 (US$7.27), or ¥40 ($5.81) for those passengers holding a receipt or proof of an airline ticket purchase. A round-trip return ticket costs ¥80 ($11.63) and VIP tickets cost double the standard fare.

Following the opening, overall maglev train ridership levels were at 20% of capacity.^[5] The levels were attributed to limited operating hours, the short length of the line, high ticket prices and that it "virtually goes nowhere", terminating at Longyang Road in Pudong another 20 min by subway from the city centre.^[6]

Construction

The Shanghai Transrapid project took ¥10 billion (US$1.33bn) and two and a half years to complete. The line is 30.5 km (18.95 mi) track and has a further separate track leading to a maintenance facility.

Extensions

In January 2006, the Shanghai-Hangzhou Maglev Train extension project was proposed by the Shanghai Urban Planning Administrative Bureau. The extension would continue the existing line towards Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, running via Shanghai South Railway Station and the Expo 2010 site, with a possible continuation towards Hangzhou. The extension would allow transferring between the two airports — located 55 km (34 mi) apart — in approximately 15 minutes.

The plan for the extension to Hangzhou was first approved by the central government in February 2006, with a planned date of completion in time for 2010. Work was suspended in 2008, owing to public protests over radiation fears.^[7] According to China Daily, as reported on People's Daily Online 27 February 2009, the Shanghai municipal government is considering building the maglev line underground to allay the public's fear of electromagnetic pollution and the final decision on the maglev line had to be approved by the National Development and Reform commission.

Another approval was granted in March 2010, with construction to begin in late 2010.^[8] The new link was to be 199.5 km (124 mi) long, 24 km (15 mi) longer than the original plan. The top speed is expected to be 450 km/h (280 mph) but limited to 200 km/h (124 mph) in built-up areas.

However, in October 2010 the non-maglev Shanghai–Hangzhou High-Speed Railway was opened, bringing travelling time between the two cities down to 45 minutes. Plans for a Maglev link have been suspended again.^[9]

Incidents

On 11 August 2006, a Maglev train compartment caught fire at 2:40 p.m., after having left Pudong International Airport in the direction of Pudong Longyang Road Station. There were no injuries aboard. Preliminary reports indicated that an electrical problem may have been the cause.

Stations

See also

• Magnetic levitation
• Maglev train
• Maglev

References

External links

• Official site of Shanghai Maglev Train
• Shanghai Maglev Train Tickets & Fare & Timetable & Notice & Transport