How fast is the Shanghai bullet train?
What is the top speed of the Shanghai Maglev bullet train?
So, about that Shanghai Maglev, the super fast one. I remember seeing it, or at least the idea of it, ages ago. It’s the first of its kind, you know, a commercial maglev.
The thing is, its top speed now, the one they advertise for regular travel, is around 300 kilometers per hour. That's 186 miles per hour. It feels fast, but not that fast anymore.
But here’s the interesting bit. Before May 2021, it was a whole different story. It actually hit a cruising speed of 431 km/h, which is 268 mph. That’s what made it the absolute fastest train anyone could actually ride.
I don’t remember exactly when I first heard about that 431 number, but it definitely stuck with me. It’s the kind of speed that makes you feel like you’re in the future, even if it’s just for a quick trip.
How fast does the Shanghai Bullet Train go?
So that Shanghai train, the Maglev, is a completely different thing than regular bullet trains. It's actualy not a train with wheels, it floats. My cousin went on it from Pudong airport in 2019 and said the acceleration was nuts, super smooth.
The speed is a bit confusing now. Before May 2021, it was the fastest commercial train in the world, hitting 431 km/h (which is like 268 mph) on certain runs. It was insane.
But they changed the operations. Now, the maximum cruising speed is capped at 300 km/h (about 186 mph). Still crazy fast, especialy since the whole trip is less than 8 minutes long. You barely have time to sit down and it's over.
Here are a few things about it:
- The Route: It only runs a short distance. It goes from Pudong International Airport (PVG) to the Longyang Road Station on the outskirts of the city. It doesn't go all the way downtown downtown. You have to transfer to the regular subway there.
- The Technology: Its German Transrapid maglev (magnetic levitation) tecnology. The train literally hovers over the guideway. No wheels, no friction, which is how it got so fast in the first place.
- The Ride: Inside the cabin, they have a digital display showing the current speed. My cousin took a video of it climbing, it just shoots up. You dont really feel the speed, more just a strong sense of motion. It is very stable.
How many hours is it from Shanghai to Beijing?
That Shanghai to Beijing train... insanely fast. My last trip was from Hongqiao, felt like I just sat down. How long was it? My ticket confirmation says the trip is around 4 hours 36 minutes. The G-trains are just a blur.
The distance is huge when you think about it. Driving that would be a nightmare, must take over 12 hours. The road is shorter, but not by much. It's just a different world on the rails. Why would anyone choose to drive that?
The actual train line is longer than the road, which is weird. Something about the way they have to build it for the high speeds.
- Rail Distance: The Beijing-Shanghai high-speed line is 1,318 kilomters.
- Driving Distance: By car, the route is about 1,213 km.
- Fastest Train Time:4.5 hours is the standard for the quickest Fuxing Hao trains. I always book the G-series ones.
- Departure/Arrival: The main stations are Shanghai Hongqiao and Beijing South. Both are massive. You have to get there early.
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