Beijing to have 1st maglev train line next year

BEIJING: China's capital Beijing city will have its first medium-low speed maglev line from next year in addition to the extensive metro network.

The train, named "Linglong" and developed domestically by CRRC Tangshan Co. Ltd, will run on Beijing's Line S1, connecting the city's western district of Mentougou to the Pingguoyuan subway station in Shijingshan district, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

A total of 10 trains will be put into use in the first stage of operation on the 10.2-kilometre magnetic levitation (maglev) line, Beijing's first, it said.


With a maximum speed of 100 kms per hour, the train will stop at eight stations and serve about 1,302 passengers at a time, the report said.

Maglev trains are safer and cheaper compared to current metro and light rail cars.

Electromagnets and specially-designed tracks prevent the trains from overturning or derailing. They can also operate in severe weather with much less noise and zero emissions.

Line S1 is expected to begin operating in 2017, it said.