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2013217

Shanghai maglev train

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Shanghai maglev train

The Shanghai maglev train (SMT) or Shanghai Transrapid (Chinese: 上海磁浮示范运营线; pinyin: Shànghǎi Cífú Shìfàn Yùnyíng Xiàn; lit.'Shanghai Maglev Demonstration Operation Line') is a magnetic levitation train (maglev) line that operates in Shanghai, China. The line uses technology developed by Transrapid, a ThyssenKrupp and Siemens joint venture. The Shanghai maglev is the world's first commercial high-speed maglev and has a maximum cruising speed of 300 km/h (186 mph). Prior to May 2021 the cruising speed was 431 km/h (268 mph), at the time this made it the fastest train service in commercial operation.

The train line connects Shanghai Pudong International Airport (also on Shanghai Metro's Line 2) and Longyang Road station (in the outskirts of central Pudong district of the city, with transfers to lines 2, 7, 16, and 18), where passengers can interchange to the Shanghai Metro to continue their trip to the city center. The line is not part of the Shanghai Metro network, which operates on its own right-of-way to Pudong Airport.

The journey takes 8 minutes and 10 seconds to complete the distance of 30 km (18.6 mi). A train can reach 300 km/h (186 mph) in 2 minutes and 15 seconds, while the historical maximum operational speed of 431 km/h (268 mph) could be reached after 4 minutes.

Construction of the line began on March 1, 2001, and public commercial service commenced on 1 January 2004. 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.

The top operational commercial speed of the Shanghai maglev was 431 km/h (268 mph), making it the world's fastest train in regular commercial service from its opening in April 2004 until its speed reduction in May 2021. During a non-commercial test run on 12 November 2003 a maglev train achieved a Chinese record speed of 501 km/h (311 mph). The Shanghai Maglev has a length of 153 metres (502 ft 0 in), a width of 3.7 metres (12 ft 2 in), a height of 4.2 metres (13 ft 9 in) and a three-class, 574-passenger configuration (End section (ES) 1st class: 56; Middle section (MS) 2nd class: 110; End section (ES) 2nd class: 78).

The train set model (Transrapid SMT) was built by a joint venture of Siemens and ThyssenKrupp from Kassel, Germany in 3 pieces (originally 4 pieces consisting of 6 wagons each were planned) and based on years of tests and improvements of their Transrapid maglev system, especially the Transrapid 08. The Shanghai Maglev track (guideway) was built by local Chinese companies who, as a result of the alluvial soil conditions of the Pudong area, had to deviate from the original track design of one supporting column every 50 meters (160 ft) to one column every 25 meters (82 ft), to ensure that the guideway meets the stability and precision criteria. Several thousand concrete piles were driven to depths up to 70 meters (230 ft) to attain stability for the support column foundations. A mile-long, climate-controlled facility was built alongside the line's right of way to manufacture the guideways. The train was manufactured in Germany by Siemens-Thyssenkrupp JV (Joint venture).

The electrification of the train was developed by Vahle, Inc. Two commercial maglev systems predated the Shanghai system: the Birmingham Maglev in the United Kingdom and the Berlin M-Bahn. Both were low-speed operations and closed before the opening of the Shanghai maglev train.

The train was inaugurated in December 2002 by the German chancellor, Gerhard Schröder, and the Chinese premier, Zhu Rongji. Initial opening was for tour only, providing a round trip. The train starts from Longyang Rd. Station, speed up to 431 km/h (268 mph) and arrives at Pudong Airport. After a very short break, the train returns without opening the door. The price was 150 RMB for normal seats and 300 RMB for VIP seat. The normal operation started on 10 October 2003.

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