by Hugo, aged 33, for everyone

Childish excitement of the Shanghai Maglev super speedy magnetic train

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Hugo's experience was in Shanghai, China. He went on 18 of August 2005 for 1 hour. He went for tourism, business, adrenaline. Hugo went with just me. He got there and around by walking, train. Hugo's verdict is: life changing.

If you go to Shanghai, then make the effort to check out the Maglev train, which is the speedy magnetic railway. I'm not usually a trainspotter, nor that excited by boy racer type things (well I try not to show it) but this was pretty tremendous. You skim across the landscape in such a dignified but preposterously fast way. Why can't we get one from London to Edinburgh in the UK?

Maglev coming into the station...

Heh. The speedometer going at 431km per hour as we approach Shanghai...

The only slight downside is that the Maglev does not take you into the centre of Shanghai but dumps you in the middle of nowhere. My taxi journey to this unusual termini felt like a ride of death and I am sure my taxi driver was falling asleep on me. Anyhow, still worth it, even if you are not a speed freek.

Comments

Thriller says...

How fast is that in English then?

Posted 592 days ago.
Jimbo says...

260 odd miles an hour according to dashboard convertor...Sweet!

Posted 584 days ago.
lucysoff says...

Goodness me. That's very fast. I'm neither a boy nor a racer, but I'd very much like to have a go on that...

Posted 527 days ago.
wyahaw says...

The only way to go if visiting Shaghai. The fastest train in the world is also a very smooth ride, even on corners. At one point you travel parallel to a motorway, and it is fun seeing just how slow the cars are going compared to you. Seven and a half minutes that you should experience.

Posted 526 days ago.
asa says...

Sounds great -- we need on in London!

Posted 522 days ago.
NicholasAdams says...

how loud was the train?

Posted 480 days ago.
Hugo says...

As far as I recall it was pretty quiet - certainly the experience is serene as you glide through the landscape. Smooth...

Posted 479 days ago.
marcus1234 says...

Wow, that's even faster than the French TGV. The TGV is very pleasant too.Makes you wonder why you should have to put up with the ridiculously expensive garbage that Richard Branson provides in the UK.

Posted 461 days ago.
professormagellan says...

well worth the (albeit brief) experience: be prepared however for taxi drivers who speak no English as you will need to get from the aglev terminus into Shanghai which is a good taxi ride.
I recall that the Maglev ticket is not at all expensive.

Posted 410 days ago.