China to develop world's fastest maglev train capable of 600-kph

BEIJING: Chinese train manufacturer have announced to begin production of world’s fastest maglev railway, which will allow trains to travel at up to 600 kilometers per hour.

The first prototype is expected to be delivered in 2020, and the test track will be built in Shandong province.

Based on electromagnetic induction, maglev trains are suspended over railway tracks. Thanks to the consequent reduced friction, the travelling speed of maglev trains is twice that of the fastest high-speed train, and close to that of airplanes.

Germany, Japan and the U.S. started to develop maglev transport system in the 1970s, with the aim of improving the capacity and efficiency of their public transport.

In 1990, China's Railway Bureau proposed the construction of a Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway. However, debate raged for seven years about whether the railway should utilize maglev or wheel-rail technology. The latter was ultimately adopted by the State Council in 2004.

Since then, China’s wheel-rail technology has remained at the center of the railway industry. However, when a mid-speed maglev railway in Changsha opened to traffic in May, maglev technology returned to the spotlight.

Additionally, a mid-speed maglev line in Beijing, linking the Shijingshan and Mentougou districts, is currently under construction.