Shanghai Pudong Maglev Train – Fastest ride ever

The maglev train from Shanghai Pudong airport to the city centre is the fastest public transport vehicle in the world. The 30 km stretch takes less than eight minutes, and the highest velocity is over 430 km/h. Unfortunately this speed is sustained only for a minute as the train needs some time to accelerate and decelerate.

The ride is really an anti-experience, as the high speed does not feel inside the cars. There is no noise or vibrations, it’s just like an ordinary train. Only the speed is different, and after travelling a while 400 km/h, 300 km/h seems like walking…

The ride costs only 50 RMB, less than five euros. Funnily enough, the train is not very crowded. Maybe this is due to the location of the station at the edge of the city. Hopefully they don’t shut down the service due to unpopularity.