China has unveiled its first self-developed series of Maglev trains, which can reach a top speed of 600 km/h, making it one of the fastest land vehicles in the world. The Maglev train was developed by China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) and built in the CRRC factory in Qingdao, Shandong province. The train has more than 1,000 seats and can carry over 1,000 passengers. The recently presented model has five cars, but it can have up to ten cars. The train is expected to be an addition to conventional high-speed trains that can reach speeds of up to 350 km/h and airplanes.
The first regular Maglev train in China began operating in 2002, serving as a feeder for the Shanghai Pudong International Airport, with a speed of 400 km/h. The development of the Maglev train began in 2016, and a prototype was presented by CRRC in 2019. Successful test runs were completed in 2020. The Chinese Maglev train is one of the fastest land vehicles on earth, with the Maglev JR in Japan holding the speed record for a Maglev train at 603 km/h. However, the Maglev JR operates at a speed of only 500 km/h in normal operation, while the Chinese Maglev train is expected to operate at full speed.
The Maglev train is expected to be a game-changer in the transportation industry, with several cities and provinces expressing interest in the new mode of transportation. The train is expected to be an alternative to airplanes and conventional high-speed trains, with the 1,100 km journey from Beijing to Shanghai taking approximately two and a half hours. The train is expected to begin operating in five to ten years, but there are currently no tracks for the Maglev train.
