- As learned from Magnetic Levitation Transportation Development
Co. Ltd Dec. 18, 2002 in Shanghai, the maiden voyage for the world renowned
Shanghai magnetic levitation train has been made definite to be in the
morning of December 31, 2002. But what makes it more eye-catching is that
the levitation line will have two distinguished guests - Chinese Premier
Zhu Rongji and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder to be among the first
batch of passengers.
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- The two Prime ministers will be the first riders on the
maglev train, experiencing the 7 minutes drive along the 31 kilometers
of the maglev line and so the maiden voyage is named the "VIP Trip".
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- The magnetic levitation project in Shanghai is the crystalised
result of the friendly cooperation between China and Germany, the first
of its kind, which is going to be used for business operation in the world.
It's beyond doubt that German Chancellor Schroeder will not come here alone
to try the maiden trip and led by him is an economic delegation of 100
people. So what is more significant is that the magnetic levitation train
is playing a role tying up the Chinese and German cooperation.
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- Moreover, the reporter phoned the Ministry of Railways
on Dec.18 and one official of the ministry expressed that they'd already
got the news about the maglev VIP Trip in Shanghai, saying "If the
premier goes to Shanghai our minister will definitely follow him there."
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- Mag-Lev Line Starts in Shanghai
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- The adjustment and experimental work of the maglev project
has been kicked off early last September and the biggest problem bothering
us then was to make the train to "float up" steadily over the
rail. To achieve it the Chinese side specially invited the German maglev
(TVE) expert to Shanghai to preside over the experimental work. By the
end of October, the maglev train gained smoothly a speed of 200 km/h and
by-and-by approached its highest speed of 430 km/h.
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- For the maiden VIP trip it is sure to exert a heavy pressure
on the maglev project in Shanghai. This is not only because there are distinguished
guests of Chinese and German Prime ministers among the passengers but also
due to the fact that the mystic veil over the maglev train kept in lethargy
for two and a half years is finally going to be unfolded. It is going to
be accepted or whatsoever by way of various examinations.
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- However, when the German side made a check over the maglev
rail in Shanghai they expressed their great satisfaction with the "very
good quality of the project". In the meantime, every day it sees so
far the smooth running of the train at a speed of over 400 km/h along the
line. And moreover, everybody from the bottom to the top in Shanghai Maglev
Co. is full of confidence about the success of the "VIP Trip"
that is soon to come.
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- Persons concerned with the Maglev Project Headquarters
said to the reporter, it hasn't decided as to how long it will take for
the trial running and everything is going to be determined in accordance
with the maiden ride on Dec.31, 2002 and the operations to come later on.
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- As learned the maglev train in Shanghai is able to take
959 passengers a trip with 12 departures an hour. Person with the Shanghai
Maglev said to the reporter, as a key project in Shanghai transport construction
in the new century, the maglev line is not only a speedy traffic line for
mass transportation between the downtown and the airport, moreover it is
a tour route for visitors to Shanghai. The magnetic levitation train used
in Shanghai is the one manufactured by German Thyssenkrupp and technologically
speaking, it is automatically driven during operation.
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- First Maglev Railway Vital To High-speed Lines
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- The world's first maglev railway for commercial operation
in China's economic center Shanghai will be an important model for other
planned high-speed railway lines in China.
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- Chinese Minister of Railways Fu Zhihuan said Friday at
a press conference that either traditional tracks or magnetic levitation
methods can be chosen for a planned Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway.
The result of the Shanghai project will be very important for the decision.
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- The Shanghai maglev railway, which will run at a speed
of more than 400 km per hour, will greatly shorten the traveling time from
downtown Shanghai to one of its airports.
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- A Sino-German project, the railway will begin trial operation
by the end of this month.
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- China plans to construct more high-speed railways in
the futureto meet economic challenges. A 2,000-km railway from Beijing
to Shanghai, and another one connecting Guangzhou and Hong Kong, are undergoing
preliminary research. In both cases, construction methods have not been
decided yet, according to Fu.
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- China is proficient in traditional track construction,
but has limited knowledge about magnetic levitation technology which is
still under experimentation, Fu said.
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- Fu said the railway ministry and experts from Hong Kong
have set up a joint team to research and blueprint the Guangzhou-Hong Kong
railway.
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- By People's Daily Online
- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200212/22/eng20021222_108923.shtml
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