The Chinese-made test maglev train made its debut in the north
China port city of Dalian, Liaoning
Province, on Friday, the first of its kind completely designed
and made by China itself.
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The train, named "Zhonghua 01," is a low-speed train with 32
seats specially made for urban traffic.
Li Lingqun, chief scientist of the maglev train study group,
said at a press conference Friday that the train is 10.3 meters
long, 3.12 meters wide and 2.86 meters high. Its top speed is less
than 110 kilometers per hour.
The so-called high-speed maglev train, which is levitated and
propelled forward by magnetic forces, has become a new focus
worldwide for its speed, safety and environment-friendliness.
Currently, Germany and Japan lead the world in maglev
technology.
Compared with the two countries, China's own maglev train
features low energy consumption, environment friendliness, high
capacity and low cost in both production and operation, said
Li.
The cost of every kilometer of the track stands at 50 million
yuan (US$6 million), only one-sixth of the world average. The
running cost of "Zhonghua No. 1" is even lower than that of
ordinary trains in the country.
Chinese researchers have spent 16 years studying the maglev
technology applied to "Zhonghua No. 1." The Dalian municipal
government is planning to build a 1.5-kilometer-long trial maglev
rail line to boost tourism.
(Xinhua News Agency October 23, 2004)
