The Guangdong government has outlined plans for two maglev lines to connect the south China province with Beijing and Shanghai.
When fully constructed in 2030, the new maglev lines will cut travel time from Guangzhou to Shanghai to two and a half hours. Meanwhile, Guangzhou to Beijing will require just over three hours, halving current travel time by high-speed rail, according to Shanghai Daily’s Shine.
Guangdong’s plan is part of China’s broader ambition to lay more than 1,000 km of new maglev tracks across the country. The maglev trains will take pressure off of the existing intercity transport infrastructure, which already features the world’s largest high-speed rail network, reported China Daily.
For travellers, maglev trains could also lead to more comfortable rides. Reduced noise and vibration, as well as lower maintenance costs, are some of the benefits of magnetic levitation technology.
On Shanghai’s maglev line, which opened in 2003 and links Pudong International Airport with the city, train carriages hover just a few centimetres above the track, allowing it to attain frictionless speeds of up to 431 km/h.
Certain sections of the new maglev lines, such as between Guangzhou and Shenzhen, could see an even higher top speed of 600 km/h.
