Fast Trains

Stu · 11 Feb 2008, 22:53

On a recent trip to China we took the Maglev train the 30k from Shanghai to Pudong airport.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_Maglev_Train

It went literally like a bullet, and reached its normal top speed of 431kph. It was a lot of fun....banking on turns and passing another Maglev train going the other way was just a whuump!...but was over in about eight minutes.

All very hight tech. until we found the airport departure area was up about 50 steps from the train platform...just couldn't see a lift or an escallator!....and we had done a lot of shopping

Anybody else gone faster in a train?

Stu

dylan · 11 Feb 2008, 22:53

I did'nt realise trains could go that fast. That must feel amazing.
Looking at the link you posted, the fares are pretty cheap also.

Stu · 11 Feb 2008, 22:54

Dylan,
Its actually very smooth [floating on air] and you only really get a feel of the speed by watching the scenery flash by.

There is some debate about the usefullness of it... its a very short run and its difficult enough just getting to the station, so you can get to the airport and it's $ billion + cost.

But it sure beats spending more time on the road at the mercy of crazy taxi drivers who regularly fly into openings in the traffic that exist in their imagination only and which depend on at least two other drivers taking evasive action.

Stu · 11 Feb 2008, 22:55

And before anybody asks....yes, the pollution in Beijing is pretty crook!