The Shanghai maglev. (Photo : Shanghai Maglev Transportation Development Co.)

China unveiled plans to build magnetic levitation or maglev trains that can reach the astounding speed of 600 km/h, making them the fastest trains in the world by the next decade.



The Ministry of Science and Technology said this fantastic speed means this maglev will traverse the 1,100 kilometer distance between Shanghai and Beijing in only two hours. This speed will also far exceed that of the existing Shanghai Maglev Train or Shanghai Transrapid to become the world's fastest commercially operated levitating train.




The Shanghai maglev connects the Shanghai Pudong International Airport, which is located 30.5 km east of Shanghai's city center, to the city itself. This maglev speeds along at nearly 435 km/h and covers the 30 km distance in just eight minutes.



The Beijing to Shanghai maglev project is one of three projects launched by state-owned CRRC Corporation, Ltd., the world's largest train maker. CRRC said it will build a maglev rail line no less than five kilometers long to test the 600 km/h maglev.



It also plans to develop maglev trains that travel at 200 km/h, with the goal of establishing domestic technology and standards for next generation medium- and high-speed maglev trains that can be sold worldwide.



CRRC also plans to begin research and development of cross-border high-speed trains that can run 400 km/h and alternate between different track gauges ranging from 60 cm to 1.676 meters.



These maglevs will consume 10 percent less energy than the 350 km/h bullet trains currently in use. China has seen rapid development of its high-speed railways in recent years. The total length of this network exceeds 20,000 km, making it the world's longest high-speed rail network.

