MAKES GAUTRAIN LOOK SLOW
Posted on 25 July 2010
The new connection from Shanghai to the Pudong International Airport is the world’s first commercial magnetic levitation (maglev) railway. Travelling at 431km/h, the 35km journey takes eight minutes, which makes Gautrain (160km/h) look slow by comparison.
Powerful magnets underneath the coaches, combined with magnetised trackwork, cause the train to levitate between one and ten centimetres above the track. As there are no moving parts, there is no wear and tear, and propulsion is also achieved by magnetic means.
Shanghai’s showpiece airport train would take under four hours from Pretoria to Cape Town (1,600km).
Related posts:
- GAUTRAIN TRACKLAYING PROGRESS
- HOME-GROWN CHINESE MAGLEV
- GAUTRAIN AIRPORT FARES
- GAUTRAIN TUNNEL EXCAVATION FINISHED
- GAUTRAIN: BUSES IF NO JUNE TRAIN
- GAUTRAIN TESTS SANDTON LINE
- FUZHOU-XIAMEN HS LINE OPENS
Having used the Maglev many times, I can confirm the above times and speeds. An with typically Chinese precision, 8 mins means just that, give or take no more than 3 seconds!