Shanghai Maglev Train

Shanghai Maglev Train or Shanghai Transrapid is a magnetic levitation train, or maglev line that operates in Shanghai, China. It is the world's first commercially maglev line jointly developed by China and Germany, with the length of 29.86 km. It connects the downtown with outskirt of Shanghai, running from Longyang Road Station in the west to Pudong Airport Station in the east.

Construction began in April 2001 of the first commercial Transrapid system. It is notable for being the first revenue-producing point-to-point high-speed maglev in the world. During a non-commercial test run on 12 November 2003, a maglev train achieved a Chinese record speed of 501 km/h, and now it keeps its highest speed of 430 km/h, still called the fastest land vehicle in the world today. The train line was designed to connect Shanghai Pudong International Airport and the outskirts of central Pudong where passengers could interchange to the Shanghai Metro Line 2 to continue their trip to the city center. There are only two stops at the beginning and the end of the journey, with no stops in the middle.

Shanghai Maglev Train Facts

- In Chinese: 上海磁悬浮列车

- Length: 29.86 km

- Start point: Longyang Road Station

- End point: Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 of Pudong Airport Station

- Operating hours: 

From Longyang Road Station to Pudong Airport Station: 06:45 – 21:40

From Pudong Airport Station to Longyang Road Station: 07:00 – 21:40

- Interval: 15 – 20 minutes

- Ticket price:

1. Economic Card: RMB50 (one way for economic seats and only be used that purchasing day)

2. Economic Card with Boarding Card: RMB40 (enjoy a discount based on the intraday boarding card)

3. Economic Round-way Card: RMB80 (round way for economic seats and can be used within 7 days)

4. VIP Card: RMB100 (one way for VIP seats and only be used that purchasing day)

5. VIP Round-way Card: RMB160 (round way for VIP seats and can be used within 7 days)

How does the Shanghai Maglev Train Work 

In the 21 century, with the sustained and rapid development of its economy and the fast progress of the society, a great demand for high speed passenger transportation has emerged. The high speed maglev transportation system is not only suitable to mass rapid passenger transportation between transport hubs hundreds to over one thousand kilometers apart, but also suitable for modern mass rapid passenger transportation between a center city and adjacent cities scores to hundreds of kilometers apart.

>> Recommended 4-day Shanghai Tour Package with Zhujiajiao and Maglev Train 

Where does the Shanghai maglev train go?

Shanghai Maglev is the fastest railway system in commercial operation in the world. The 30-km line runs between the Shanghai Lujiazui financial district and Pudong Shanghai International Airport. Starting from Longyang Road Station in the west, it extends eastward along Yingbin Avenue to the Maglev Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 of Pudong (formerly Pudong International Airport Station), passing through Luoshan Road, Outer Ring Road, Huadong Road, Shangchuan Road, Pudong Canal, Chuannan Fenggong Road and Yuandong Avenue. An end-to-end ride takes about eight minutes. 

How Fast is the Maglev Tain in Shanghai​

A world record for commercial maglev systems was set on November 12, 2003. A five-section train achieved the top speed of 501 km/h while another vehicle passed at 430 km/h on the adjacent track. The Transrapid in Shanghai has a design speed of over 500 km/h and a regular service speed of 430 km/h.

Shanghai Maglev Train Schedule & Subway Connecting 

Time Table

When Was the Shanghai Maglev Train Built

On June 30, 2000, Mr. Xu Kuangdi, then Mayor of Shanghai, and Mr. Wahl, Managing Director of Maglev Railway International, signed an agreement to jointly carry out a feasibility study on a demonstration line for the operation of maglev train in Shanghai. 

Later, In August, 2000, the project proposal for the Shanghai Maglev Demonstration Line was approved by the State Council of the People's Republic of China, and the project was officially launched in January 2001. 
On October 11, 2003, the Shanghai Maglev Demonstration Line was opened for operation. And on April 27, 2006, the Shanghai Maglev Demonstration Line was officially put into commercial operation. Since than, anyone travel in Shanghai can take Shanghai Maglev if they arrive at /depart from Shanghai Pudong Airport. 

Facility on Board

Appearance

The model of Shanghai Maglev Train is basically the same as the German TR08 Maglev Train, which adopts the ordinary conductor electrically excited to generate electromagnetic levitation force and guiding force. Long-stator linear synchronous motors are used for traction. 

Capacity

The train can accommodate 959 passengers at one time, with the first car having a capacity of 52, the middle car having a capacity of 110 per section, and the tail car having a capacity of 78.

Internal Facilities

The Shanghai Maglev train is equipped with soft seats. There is an LCD screen at the end of the carriages, which displays the time and running speed at that time. Inside the carriages, there are 5G commercial terminals that are stable throughout the entire journey, allowing passengers to conduct mobile office, video conferencing, interactive games and other businesses on the train.

>> Recommended 4-day Shanghai Family Tour with Maglev Train Experience

Maglev Train from Beijing to Shanghai

There is no maglev train between the two cities yet. So you still need to take a plane or China high speed train for Beijing and Shanghai tours. But China is researching the high-speed maglev technology with a speed of 600 kilometers per hour, which is expected to shorten the Beijing-Shanghai trip to 2-3.5 hours in the future. Currently, Beijing has only one low-speed maglev commuter line (S1 line), operating at 80 kilometers per hour, serving Mentougou and Shijingshan districts. 

>> Recommended 7-day Beijing to Shanghai Tour by High Speed Train

Shanghai-Hangzhou Maglev Train

In January 2006, the Shanghai-Hangzhou Maglev Train extension project was proposed by the Shanghai 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 possibly continuation towards Hangzhou. If built, the extension would allow transferring between the two airports - located 55 km (34 mi) apart - in approximately 15 minutes.

>> Recommended 4-day Shanghai tour with Hangzhou

Shanghai Maglev Museum

Shanghai Maglev Museum, located on the ground floor of Longyang Road Station, officially opened on August 16, 2007. In order to play a better role of popularizing the knowledge of maglev high-tech, the expansion began in early 2006. A number of interactive exhibits, simulation models and physical components have been added to enable visitors to understand the technological appeal of maglev in a lively display environment. With the clue of time, it tells the past, present and future of Shanghai maglev train. Maglev train passengers will be satisfied with the knowledge after the experience of eight-minute running of maglev train.

If you take maglev train from Pudong Airport to Longyang Road Station, it’s a nice choice to explore the science and technic deeply here. The museum opens from 09:00 to 17:30, and it takes RMB10 to get in. But you can visit it for free with maglev ticket of the day.

>> Related reading: Shanghai Railway Museum, Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall

FAQ about Shanghai Maglev

Is Shanghai maglev the fastest train in the world? 

The Shanghai Maglev is currently the fastest commercially operating train on the planet, but not the fastest train. in 2015, Japan's L0-series superconducting maglev reached 603 km/h in tests (not yet in official commercial operation). And in 2021, China has successfully tested a 600 km/h high-speed maglev test vehicle. For the world's fastest commercial train experience, don't miss the Shanghai Maglev on your China holiday.

Is Maglev safe?

Yes, with the Transrapid system, there is no risk of derailment. Zero major accidents since its operation in 2004.

Which is faster, Maglev or subway?

From Pudong Airport to Longyang Station, Maglev takes only 7-8 minutes (without stops), while Metro Line 2 takes about 50 minutes (with multiple stops). Experience the speed of the world's fastest commercial train on your Shanghai city tour.