Latest news with #ShanghaiMaglev
India.com
17-07-2025
- India.com
Delhi to Mumbai in just 2 hours: China builds superfast train which is twice as fast as bullet train, top speed to be..., name is...
Delhi to Mumbai in just 2 hours: China builds superfast train which is twice as fast as bullet train, top speed to be..., name is... India has been waiting a long time for its first bullet train. While many countries are working on high-speed rail projects, China has taken things even further. According to reports, China has built a train that is twice as fast as a regular bullet train. This new train is called the Maglev train, and it can reach a top speed of 600 kilometers per hour. The most interesting part about the Maglev train is that it will not run on tracks like normal trains. Instead, it will float in the air. This happens because of magnetic force, which lifts the train above the tracks and lets it glide forward with very little friction. This is why it can go much faster than bullet trains. The train was recently shown at the 17th Modern Railway Expo in Beijing, China. The train doesn't have wheels and moves using special magnets. This technology is called magnetic propulsion and helps the train beat even the speed of wind! To run this kind of train, China uses special vacuum tubes with magnets. These reduce contact between the train and the track, making the train appear as if it's floating in air. China has already completed the first stage of this project. The train has not started commercial service yet as the testing is still going on. Once ready, it will run between major cities, separate from the regular rail network. Designed to transform city-to-city travel This Maglev train is expected to cover the 1,200 km distance from Beijing to Shanghai in just two hours. Earlier it used to take 5.5 hours. To compare, if such a train were to run in India, it could travel from Delhi to Mumbai in only two hours. That would be a game-changer for transportation! Maglev Train: Clean, Quiet, and Smart The new maglev train is not only super fast it is also clean, quiet, and energy-saving. It runs using a special superconducting magnetic levitation technology which makes the train float above the track without touching it, so there's almost no friction. Because of this, the train makes very little noise, doesn't release harmful gases, and uses less energy than regular trains. When the train goes faster than 150 km/h, it lifts off the track and floats using magnetic power. But at slower speeds, it runs on rubber wheels until it's fast enough to levitate. Shao Nan, a top engineer from CRRC, shared more details. He said the train is fully automatic and it drives itself. It uses 5G signals, AI video analysis, sound sensors, and other smart systems to watch the tracks and surroundings. In China, the Shanghai Maglev is currently the fastest train in commercial operation, reaching 430 km per hour (267 mph) between Shanghai Pudong Airport and Longyang Road station.
AllAfrica
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- AllAfrica
China accelerates its maglev train to catch up with Japan
China previewed its new magnetic levitation (maglev) train, boasting a maximum speed of 600 kilometers per hour (373 miles per hour), in a recent event after completing the first phase of its engineering design. If successfully built and operated, this bullet train can catch up with Japan's fastest maglev train: the L0 Series, which achieved a record speed of 603 km per hour (375 mph) during a test run in April 2015. The L0 Series trains run at a maximum speed of 500 km per hour (311 mph) in commercial service, offering a journey time of 1 hour 7 minutes between Tokyo and Osaka. China's new maglev train, developed by China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC), was displayed at the 17th Modern Railways exhibition in Beijing from July 8 to 10. China State Railway Group and the International Union of Railways (UIC) also co-hosted the 12th World Congress on High-Speed Rail at the same venue. The vehicle can travel between Beijing and Shanghai in 2.5 to three hours, compared with the four-hour journey achieved by the current high-speed train. In China, the Shanghai Maglev is currently the fastest train in commercial operation, reaching 430 km per hour (267 mph) between Shanghai Pudong Airport and Longyang Road station. It used technology developed by Transrapid International, a joint venture between Siemens and Thyssenkrupp in Germany. 'The new superconducting maglev train will be used to supplement the existing network to implement point-to-point transportation,' said Shao Nan, a senior engineer at CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles. 'It can fill the speed gap between high-speed rail and aviation within 2,000 km per hour (1,243 mph).' She said the vehicle will move on rubber wheels when its speed is below 150 km per hour and will be lifted by magnetic fields when moving faster than that. Footage from the state-owned China Central Television showed an animation about how the rubber wheels are retracted before the train enters a maglev mode. Shao added that the first phase of the train's engineering was completed in July last year. She said the company will carry out more route and safety tests and engineering viability assessments for the train before deploying the train for commercial use. CRRC Changchun did not announce any roadmap for the train's commercial operation. It also did not disclose any information about how the train was designed and built, or whether any foreign partners were involved. This train likely came from the same project as the CRRC 600, which was developed by CRRC Qingdao Sifang (CRRC Changchun's sister company) using Transrapid technology under license from the German firm Thyssenkrupp. Back in 2016, CRRC announced that it would develop a maglev train with a designed top speed of 600 km per hour. In July 2018, CRRC and Thyssenkrupp signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on technology cooperation, targeting applications in the fields of smart mobility, magnetic technology, environmental protection, and renewable energy. In July 2021, Xinhua reported that CRRC Qingdao Sifang, a fully-owned unit of CRRC, 'self-developed' the CRRC 600. The company allowed visitors to experience for themselves inside the train's cabin. In September 2023, it displayed the same train at the 2023 World Manufacturing Convention in Hefei, Anhui province. An academic paper published by a group of Chinese and German mechanical engineers in March 2023 showed a close partnership between CRRC Qingdao Sifang and Thyssenkrupp. In February 2024, the European Commission launched an anti-subsidy probe into CRRC Qingdao Sifang over its bid for a €610 million (US$712 million) Bulgarian public procurement contract to provide electric trains, along with maintenance and staff training. The EC stopped the investigation after CRRC Qingdao Sifang withdrew its bid. Now, the CRRC Changchun has become the project manager of CRRC's new maglev train. An article published by China Youth Net, a unit of the Communist Youth League of China, said that, from the perspective of commercial value or future applications, high-speed maglev lines are more suitable for use between some large urban clusters with high-end passenger traffic. It added that, from the energy consumption perspective, the longer the distance the more obvious the comprehensive benefits and advantages. 'If high-speed maglev lines only serve Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, the passenger flow will be far from enough,' the article said. 'Besides, ticket prices for these maglev trains will have to be higher than those of the existing high-speed railways in the future.' Citing industry experts, the article said it will take a long time before CRRC's new maglev train can begin commercial operations. Some analysts have pointed out that weak market demand, rather than maglev technology, is the main obstacle for China to accelerate its high-speed train. In February this year, a group of Chinese commentators said a report by the National Audit Office (NAO) had found that China's high-speed railway saw an 'about 100 billion yuan of total loss' in the nine months ending December 31, 2024. A article also said China's high-speed railway network was 45,000 kilometers at the end of 2023, but only 2,300 kilometers, or 6% of the total, could make a profit. Read: China's fast-growing high-speed railway network faces reality
India.com
02-07-2025
- India.com
Not just 10, 20, or 50, this train has hundreds of coaches, long enough to fit 24 Eiffel Towers! World's longest train runs with no passengers; its name is..
Not just 10, 20, or 50, this train has hundreds of coaches, long enough to fit 24 Eiffel Towers! World's longest train runs with no passengers; its name from... There are many trains worldwide with various unique and amazing characteristics. Some trains are incredibly fast, like the Shanghai Maglev, China's fastest train, which can travel 460 km/h. Some trains traverse the longest routes in the world, like the Trans-Siberian Railway, which travels thousands of kilometers. Other trains are recognized globally for their opulence and comfort, allowing passengers to travel like a king with extravagant interiors and lavish services. There is a reason each train is special – speed, length, or luxury. World's longest train runs with no passengers; its name is…runs from… In this article, we will talk about a really special train. When a train passes, you often see people trying to count how many coaches it has. Freight trains typically have more coaches than passenger trains; they often have about 60 or 70 coaches. But there is one country that has a train with so many coaches that it is far more than 60 or 70 coaches; it is the world's longest train. It is…. 8 locomotive engines and 682 wagons, Australian BHP Iron Ore train is used for… The Australian BHP Iron Ore train is the world's longest train. It is a freight train and not a passenger train. The Australian BHP Iron Ore train was first operated on June 21, 2001. The train covers a distance of 7.3 kilometers from front to rear. It has 8 locomotive engines and 682 wagons and is used mainly for transporting iron ore. It is said there would be enough space for 24 Eiffel Towers in the length of the train if they were placed in line. This train has a weight of 100,000 tonnes. Australian BHP Iron Ore train is 7,300 metres long! This train operates in the Pilbara region of Australia and is 7,300 metres long and hauls over 99,000 tonnes of iron ore. The more interesting part is that it does not have a driver; it is operated from a distance, using AI navigation and real-time data. The Mount Newman Railway in South Africa was the longest train before the Australian BHP Iron Ore train. The most remarkable thing about this train was that it was driven by a single locomotive pilot, which is truly amazing. This train's most impressive feature was that it was operated by just one locomotive pilot, which is just incredible.
The Hill
29-06-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Protecting small-town America: Why high-speed rail is the wrong track for the US
High-speed rail has captured the public imagination, becoming a key benchmark for comparison between China and the U.S.. Observers point to its widespread ubiquity in the former and absence in the latter as a reflection of broader developmental trajectories. The Shanghai Maglev (short for 'magnetic levitation') train, with speeds of up to 268 mph, is one of many 'super-trains' seemingly backing the claim that China is 'living in the future' in 2025. However, the topic may turn out to be a case of comparing apples to oranges, due to structural differences in governance, geography and transportation culture. Building a high-speed transportation network — a large-scale infrastructure project requiring massive federal investment — would pose a significant challenge to the U.S. economy. The California High-Speed Rail currently underway, for instance, was predicted to require $33 billion in funding but has now reached an estimate of $113 billion. Among the many repercussions soon to be realized, however, one stands out as particularly overlooked. Such networks of high-speed rail would be disastrous to a part of America that has been driving the U.S. economy for many years, perhaps illustrated best in movies and television. Think of the Double R Diner from the show 'Twin Peaks,' or the gas station stops in the Coen brothers' film 'No Country for Old Men.' Depicted in these scenes were 'pass-through towns' or 'rest-and-stop towns' — small communities between destination cities that stay alive because travelers stop at local diners, gas stations and similar mom-and-pop businesses. Small towns and communities such as Seligman, Ariz.; Little America, Wyo.; and Needles, Calif., among others, have built their economies around providing such services. Unlike China, where there is a more concentrated settlement pattern, the U.S. has many such towns scattered across relatively remote areas, often encountered only during long drives. Implementing high-speed rail nationwide would be detrimental to these towns, in turn undermining key parts of the overall American economy. Such large-scale infrastructure projects disrupt local autonomy and free-market activity. As has already been reported in China, high-speed rail networks often produce what is called the 'siphon effect,' where the allure of large urban cities absorbs a great deal of investment and development opportunities away from smaller communities. This effect would be particularly damaging for small towns across the U.S. that have in recent years been in an economically fragile state. Many American social media influencers have disregarded this detail, and their pleas for the U.S. to join the hype have been echoed by policymakers and urban planners who have tried for many years to establish high-speed rail. There is a fundamental conflict between the notion of connecting the whole of the U.S. with high-speed networks and the American tradition of decentralized infrastructure. The success of the Eisenhower Interstate System was not that it connected major cities but because it empowered Americans to traverse the entire country, aiding local economies along the way. The Eisenhower Interstate System also allowed Americans to live far away from city centers and helped cement America's car culture. The vision for a high-speed rail within the U.S. imports the centralized planning of a nation with drastically different values and geography, fundamentally misunderstanding what has contributed to the historical success of the Eisenhower Interstate System. Furthermore, the financial logic of high-speed rail networks simply does not hold up, as ongoing projects turned into what many city planners now describe as logistical and financial 'nightmares.' Citizens Against Government Waste pointed to the mismanagement of California's high-speed rail, which has faced rising costs every year since the project began. While the claim that it would cost $33 billion was never feasible, the current $113 billion estimate is already 23 percent higher than the $81.4 billion that organization had originally estimated it would actually cost. It cites the 'opportunistic contractors' that have exploited the lack of foresight involved in the project, 88 of which were booted by Gov. Gavin Newsom far 'too late.' A misreading of the American public's needs has led policymakers to surrender to hyped-up benchmarks that undermine the traditions and geography of the U.S., as well as reasons behind previous successes in infrastructure. Thus, it would be wise to think twice before entering the super-train craze that China has spearheaded, re-evaluating ongoing projects and reflecting on the longstanding national value of decentralization. Rinzen Widjaja is a writer, political commentator and television guest speaker based in Melbourne, Australia, and a student of economics at the University of Melbourne.
India.com
11-06-2025
- Business
- India.com
World's largest bullet train network is in..., its fastest train's speed is..., not Japan, USA; India is positioned at...
China, a country frequently recognized for its immense technological advancements and manufacturing capabilities, has made a significant impact on the global high-speed rail scene. In just 15 years, it built 47,000 kilometres of track, connecting cities, revolutionizing travel, and serving as a gold standard for infrastructure worldwide. Speaking of India, India is moving forward—albeit at a slower pace—with its first bullet train project, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor. By June 2025, 300 km of viaduct construction had been completed, with the first phase of operations expected to begin by 2028. The Shanghai Maglev is more than a train; it's a vision for the future of transport. It is the fastest train in commercial service today, reaching speeds of up to 431 km/h, gliding above the tracks with ease using innovative magnetic levitation (maglev) technology instead of conventional wheels and tracks. With trains regularly travelling above the speed of 300 km/h, travel times like Beijing's journeys to Shanghai, which used to take almost a full day, now occur in just over three hours. Backed by domestic ingenuity and big plans for international extension, China's high-speed train network is famously unparalleled in both the scale at which China operates and speed at which trains travel. According to The Times of India report, as Europe took decades to construct its network of high-speed trains, the experience with India's first bullet train has been slow but steady. Almost eight years after construction started in 2017, the project is still going on. As of June 2025, a mere 300 kilometres of viaducts had been completed on the ambitious Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor. This achievement was marked by the launching of a 40 m long full-span box girder near Surat, Gujarat, according to the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) statement. This ambitious project has been developed in collaboration with Japan, and aims to reduce the travel time between two major financial centres in India—a trip that currently takes more than 7 hours to a little less than 3. The first phase of the project, which runs from Sabarmati to Vapi, is expected to be operational by 2028. NHSRCL stated, 'Out of 300 km of superstructure, 257.4 km is constructed through Full Span Launching Method (FSLM) including 14 river bridges, 37.8 km through Span by Span (SBS), 0.9 km steel bridges (10 spans ranging from 60 to 130 m in 7 bridges), 1.2 km PSC bridges (20 spans ranging from 40 to 80 m in 5 bridges) and 2.7 km in station building .'For constructing 257.4 km of viaduct through FSLM and 37.8 km of viaduct through SBS, 6455 & 925 spans of 40 m each, respectively, were used. The project has supported the use of indigenously designed and manufactured equipment such as Straddle Carriers, Launching Gantries, Bridge Gantries, and Girder Transporters for construction. This marks a first for Indian infrastructure, showcasing India's growing capabilities in high-speed rail technology with the support of the Japanese government. The adoption of the Full Span Launching Method has significantly accelerated construction, as full-span girder erection is up to ten (10) times faster than conventional segmental methods. Each full-span box girder weighs 970 metric tons. Segmental girders are used selectively in locations where full-span installation is not feasible. As per the news agency ANI report, to facilitate construction, 27 dedicated casting yards were established along the corridor. Steel bridges are fabricated in seven workshops spread all across the country, three in Gujarat, one each in Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and West Bengal truly exemplifying the spirit of unity of our country. More than 3 lakh noise barriers have been installed along the viaducts to mitigate noise during operations. In addition to the viaducts, the project has also completed 383 km of pier work, 401 km of foundation work and 326 km of girder casting. The thematic Bullet Train stations are rapidly taking shape. These stations will be integrated with the rail and road based transport system to provide seamless travel to passengers. The stations will be equipped with state-of-the-art passenger amenities. Track works over viaducts have also started, and around 157 track km of RC track bed construction has been achieved so far in Gujarat. The rolling stock depots with modern infrastructure are also getting ready in Maharashtra and milestone is a demonstration of the project's robust planning, cutting-edge engineering, and commitment to the 'Make in India' policy. (With agencies inputs)
