Рет қаралды 151,020
The Shanghai Transrapid Maglev train is the fastest train in the world, reaching an incredible 430 kilometers an hour in regular service. The maglev line opened in 2004 and has been hurtling passengers safely to and from the Pudong International Airport and several metro lines near downtown Shanghai. Unfortunately for the maglev, the Metro line two now serves the airport as well taking many passengers.
There are 2 trains used during regular service with a third spare train. The trains used to change tracks in a pinched loop system, but currently the two trains simply run as a shuttle service never changing tracks all day. Service is every 15 minutes for most of the day. Sadly, just 12 trains a day in each direction run at full speed while the rest run at 'only' 300 km/h. Trains run at 430 km/h from 9am to 10:45am and from 3pm to 3:45pm.
I had a great time riding the maglev trains and walking the length of the track over several days taking video. A few days were incredibly foggy which made for interesting, but limited photo opportunities.
The switches aren't used today in regular operation, except in the morning and night to put the trains away in the depot. I posted a video shot in 2006 showing the switches being operated. • Shanghai Maglev switch