The Subway and Maglev of Shanghai Train

shanghai train

The Shanghai Maglev Train or Shanghai Transrapid is a magnetic levitation train(maglev) line that operates in Shanghai, China. It is notable for being the first commercial high-speed maglev of shanghai train line in the world — during a test run on November 12, 2003, a Maglev of shanghai train vehicle achieved a Chinese record speed of 501 km/h (311 mph) (non-commercial top speed). Construction of the line began in March 2001 and public service commenced on January 1, 2004. The top operational commercial speed of this shanghai 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 previous record holder at 320 km/h with TGV in France, and also faster than the latest CRH conventional wheel train in China at 350 km/h. The top speed of 431 km/h (268 mph) is also faster than the top speed of any production street car (except for the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, which has roughly the same top speed), Formula One car, or MotoGP super bikes.

The shanghai train set and tracks were manufactured using the German-originated Transrapid technology. Two commercial maglev of shangai train 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 runs from Longyang Road station in Pudong to Pudong International Airport; both stations provide transfers to Line 2 of theShanghai Metro. A shanghai 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.

In January 2006, the Shanghai-Hangzhou Maglev Train extension project was proposed by theShanghai 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.

Some tips for taking the subway in Shanghai:

1. Get in: There are several entrances for every subway station and you can find signs near every subway station,  which tell you how to get to the subway entrance.

2. Buy ticket: Now all the subway stations of Shanghai are using the magnetic card tickets. You can buy your tickets at the ticket vending machines in the subway stations. The Shanghai Public Traffic Card(SPTC) is another good choice. This SPTC will cost you 100 rmb, including a deposit of 30 rmb. It is a rechargable IC card and you can do the recharge at every subway station of Shanghai. This SPTC can be used in the bus, ferry, subway and taxi. It is very convinient. If you are a tourist here in Shanghai, you can choose the ticket vending machines. But for the people who need to stay in Shanghai for a while, the SPTC will be a better choice. You can save a lot of time waiting in the line to buy your tickets every time you take the subway.

3. Transfer: The Renmin Square(People Square) is the transfer station for Line 1, Line 2 and Line 8. The Gongshan Park station is the transfer station for Line 2, Line 3 and Line 4. You can see the subway map in the trains and this will show you where to get off or transfer to another subway line.