Technology has improved dramatically throughout history to enhance the standard of living for people. The discovery of electricity at the beginning of the 18th century and Einstein’s theories, which revolutionized our knowledge of the universe, were just two examples of how each new discovery brought a wave of innovation that has aided humanity on its path thus far. These technological advances are occurring at an even faster rate now than we can keep up with. It is safe to assume that, up to this point, no living thing has been able to escape its mark or impact.
One such amazing technology development is a powerfully fast rail service called maglev trains, also referred to as magnetic levitation trains. Maglev trains lift a few inches above the track or guideway using electromagnetic force. These trains can travel at higher speeds than regular trains, have parts that last longer, and are incredibly silent and pleasant to ride because a major source of friction—the wheels on the rails—has been eliminated.The Shanghai maglev train is currently the first unique maglev train commercial operation line in the world. The track starts from Longyang Road Station of Metro Line 2 in the west and goes all the way to Pudong International Airport in the east. It takes a mere 8 minutes to travel 30 kilometers, hence the “world’s fastest land vehicle” as certified by Guinness World Records. It has an astronomical speed of 431 kilometers per hour delivering an unprecedented speed experience to passengers. As the “first” commercial maglev demonstration operation line in the world, the Shanghai line quickly rose to prominence upon its 2003 launch as a major tourist destination. Several travelers made an extra effort merely to ride maglev trains at “zero altitude.”
Twelve years later, the maglev line is now a part of Shanghai’s urban rail transit system and has evolved into one of the primary means of transportation for people traveling to and from the city and Pudong Airport because of its practicality, affordability, and punctuality. The majority of the maglev passenger flow has been attributed to airport traffic as compared to the initial passenger flow distribution.
Yet, in light of this, the primary motivation for many visitors and tour groups choosing maglev over other transportation options is the desire to firsthand experience the utterly unique appeal of this next-generation form of transportation that can only be experienced in Shanghai. In addition to satisfying existing consumer demand, Maglev concentrates on advancing the marketing idea of “experiential transportation.” That is to say, as a public transportation system, China proposes to continuously raise the bar for magnetic levitation service standards, understand the stability of the system’s operation, pay attention to daily operation safety, guarantee the punctuality and value of maglev, and work toward ‘To-the-second’ accuracy.
Similarly, for tourists who come to experience China’s maglev tourism, China is constantly striving to improve their extremely fast experience by enriching their products — improving the ticket price system, opening the Shanghai Maglev Transportation Science and Technology Museum, launching the “maglev Subway One Ticket Pass,” selling travel joint tickets, giving away travel maps, and so on. Every visitor to maglev can see, read, and hear the past, present, and future of maglev, as well as feel the advanced nature of magnetic levitation technology, thanks to continuous improvement of on-site service and improvement of on-site layout of maglev stations.
On the maglev line, you can always see and hear different races and languages, which are intertwined with the flying trains that converge into a colorful picture on the city’s territory. This “experiential transportation” tourism and transportation marketing concept is becoming more popular, making maglev trains a fashionable city business card in Shanghai. I’ll be sure to take one the next time I visit Shanghai. So, how about you?
Sources:
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/china-fastest-maglev-train-intl-hnk/index.html
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-unveils-600-kph-maglev-train-state-media-2021-07-20/
https://travel.usnews.com/Shanghai_China/Things_To_Do/Shanghai_Maglev_62577/
https://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/engines-equipment/maglev-train.htm
https://www.chinahighlights.com/shanghai/transportation/maglev-train.htm