By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Amid floods that have killed dozens and a pandemic that has taken thousands more lives, China has unveiled a maglev bullet train that can reach speeds of 600 kilometres (373 miles) per hour.
It comes a month after the country debuted the Zhongtang Air Railway, a sky train with a “glass” bottom riders can see through. It has 270-degree visibility as the top is not transparent, according to CNN.
Developed by the state-owned China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC), the latest train launched in Qingdao, China is considered the fastest in the world.
“Maglev” is an abbreviation of “magnetic levitation.” The train appears to be “floating” thanks to an electromagnetic force that sends it gliding above the tracks, per CNN.
Liang Jianying, deputy general manager and chief engineer of CRRC Sifang, told Chinese state media that in addition to its speed, the train emits low levels of noise pollution and requires less maintenance than other high-speed trains.
A prototype of the new maglev train was revealed to media in 2019. That same year, China announced ambitious plans to create “3-hour transportation circles” between major metropolitan areas.
China’s new maglev train is designed to reach speeds of 600 kilometers per hour.
Feature China/Barcroft Media/Getty Images
Per CNN, high-speed rail is a major priority in China, which aims to connect more of its large cities by train to reduce the time and expense required to travel around the world’s most populous country.
Maglev tracks inadequate
Currently, the average high-speed train in China can run at about 350 kph, while planes fly at 800-900 kph. Trains like the one unveiled in Qingdao could fill a critical middle space.
However, there’s one thing keeping this train from being ready to greet commuters – a lack of completed maglev track networks.
Currently, China only has one maglev line in commercial use, connecting Shanghai’s Pudong Airport with the Longyang Road station in the city.
The 30 km (19 mile) journey takes about seven and a half minutes, with the train hitting speeds of 430 kph (267 mph).
The 270-mile railway between Lhasa and Nyingchi entered into service on June 25, giving all regions in mainland China access to high-speed train travel.
Several new maglev networks are reportedly under construction, including one linking Shanghai and Hangzhou and another connecting Chengdu and Chongqing.
China debuts panda train with glass bottom
CNN reports that Chengdu is famous for being the home of China’s panda breeding program, so it seems only fitting that the southwestern city should have a panda train to welcome international tourists when they return.
On June 26, the capital of Sichuan province debuted the Zhongtang Air Railway, a sky train with a “glass” bottom riders can see through. It has 270-degree visibility as the top is not transparent.
Travelers who look at the train head-on will notice that it is painted to resemble a panda.
The Dayi Air Rail Project is the world’s first new energy tourism air rail test line (translation: an aerial suspended rail train using lithium battery power packs as traction power), and is about 11.5 kilometers (about 7 miles) in length.
A maximum of 120 people can fit in each car. Because the glass can reflect the heat, the trains are air-conditioned to balance it out. It is made of lightweight carbon fiber materials.
The train can travel about the same speed as a subway, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) per hour.
Currently, the train line has four stops: Dayi Station, Guanghua Avenue, Sujiazhen Station and Anren Station. At Dayi, riders can connect to the Chengdu Express Rail Line and Planning Line 12 of the Chengdu city subway.
Though the Zhongtang Air Railway is geared more towards sightseeing tourists than locals commuting to work, it’s another feather in the cap of the Chinese rail network.
