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 Dec. 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.
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."
The magnetic levitation project in Shanghai is the crystallized 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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
(People's Daily December 23, 2002)
