:: Travel :: How to take Maglev Train in Shanghai ::

I have been to China twice. The people are nice; the eyes slanting, the vehicles on the road can’t stop honking. The Shanghai drivers will honk at absolutely everything, from a stray cat trying to cross the road to the 90 year old grandma on the sidewalk to the motorist in front for dropping a dime. Luckily, the first commercial high-speed maglev line in the world does not have a horn!!

I am very surprise with how fast the train can go without much vibration I’ve taken the train from Pudong International Airport and stop at Longyang Road Station (actually it’s the only route this Maglev train service covered).

It cost me 50yuan (RM25 or USD7) for one way trip. The total track is about 30km and the train takes 7minutes and 20 seconds to complete the journey.

The top speed during my journey is 431km per hour and even at this speed, the vibration & sound is lesser than Malaysia’s own wibbly-wobbly LRT & KTM Komuter. And to my surprise, I can still enjoy the view of Shanghai suburb just like normal train.

I just find out that many of my friends who have been to Shanghai didn’t even take the Maglev Train because well, they didn’t know how… with the kind of English that the Chinese speaks; they gave up and took the one hour cab ride instead. Since I’ve been there a couple of times, I think I would like to share my experience on how to take the Shanghai Maglev Train from Pudong Airport .

Many said it’s difficult to even find the station. Listen to me now everybody, the key, you people; is COMMUNICATIONS!! Ask for your direction, its ok, chances of you bumping into them again are almost zero. Ask the way I did it.. write it on a piece of paper and show it to the person around you that look the most literate. Try not to speak to them anything fancier than thank you, unless you want the Chinese to mistake you for a serial killer and speed away. Another effective method of asking direction in China is pointing repeatedly on the Maglev icon on the map without saying a word. Trust me.

After you get out of the International Arrivals Exit , find the sign pointing to upstairs with Maglev signage & Parking. It is on the second floor of the airport. You can take either escalator on the left or the elevator in front of the gate.

However, I suggest that you use the escalator.

After you arrive on the second floor of the airport, follow the sign to the Maglev & parking lot. Then you will see a long bridge from the airport to the parking lots. It is shown in the picture below:

Walk through the long hallway and at the end, you can see KFC restaurant and at this point, you already inside Maglev station!

I was there during the winter, and the bridge is only semi covered. I remember stopping in the middle of the bridge to open my suitcase and got my jacket on. Phew!

At the end of the bridge, on your left, you can find the ticket counter. The train only commutes between Longyang Road Station and Pudong International Airport. So, all you need to tell the person behind the ticket counter in one way or two way ticket.

Operating time for Maglev train is 8:30 – 17:30 and it has extended time from 17:30 to 21:00.Train interval is 15mins and normally at extended time it will runs at maximum speed 300km/h. So, it’s better for you travel during normal time if you want to experience the maximum speed.

A little info about the Maglev Train. Construction began in March, 2001, and public service commenced on January 1, 2004. During a test run on 12 November 2003, the vehicle achieved a top speed of 501km/h, which currently stands as the speed world record for Transrapid vehicles. The Shanghai Transrapid project took 10 billion yuan (1.2 billion US dollars) and 2.5 years to complete it.

This train operated based on magnetic levitation theory. That’s when electromagnetic force is used to counteract the effects of the gravitational force. So, the train is suspended above another object with no support other than magnetic fields. Its mean that Shanghai Maglev train is actually floating and flying. That’s why it’s FAST!

I will take you along, if I were to go again ok Diyana? ehehehe