China is heaven for railfans, especially those capable of achieving near-orgasmic excitement simply by watching train speeds climb ever higher. Slowness on the tracks usually floats my boat, but even I have to admit there is something thrilling about experiencing the world’s fastest train, the Shanghai Maglev, which runs from Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) to Longyang Road Station, a short taxi ride from the Bund.
Inside the train, everything initially feels ordinary. The cabin resembles any other modern train; 2×2 seating, sleak, quiet, smooth, and unremarkable. But within moments of departure, the acceleration comes. Buildings and highways blur into streaks, and the speed indicator inside the carriage quickly becomes the center of attention as passengers watch it climb rapidly past 300… 350… 400 km/h.
For someone who deeply loves traditional railways such as overnight sleepers, old stations, and the nostalgic rhythm of steel wheels on welded track, the Shanghai Maglev felt like the complete opposite end of the railway spectrum. And that contrast is precisely what made the experience unforgettable. The journey itself lasts only a few minutes, but for those brief moments, it feels more like traveling inside a science-fiction film than riding a commuter train in modern China.
Enjoy the thrilling video (captured in real time) showing the train’s acceleration from 0 to 430 km/h in roughly four minutes. At 2:40, do not miss the dramatic passing of two Maglev trains traveling in opposite directions at high speed, creating a sudden pressure wave and a noticeable jolt inside the cabin.
Some technical tidbits:
- The Shanghai Maglev opened in 2004, becoming the world’s first commercially operated high-speed magnetic levitation train.
- The line is approximately 30 km (18.6 miles) long, and the journey takes only about 7 minutes.
- The train once reached a maximum operational speed of 430 km/h (268 mph) during certain services. However, most services today operate at reduced speeds of around 300 km/h for operational reasons.
- The system was developed using German Transrapid technology.
- Instead of steel wheels on rails, the train uses magnetic levitation (maglev) technology, meaning the train floats slightly above the guideway using powerful electromagnets.
- Despite its technological success, the line was never expanded into a larger national Maglev network due to extremely high construction and operating costs.