This morning on the Maglev Train
This morning I flew home from Shanghai to Tokyo. On almost of my previous business trips to Shanghai, I have traveled on the Maglev train between Pudong and the Pudong International Airport. With a top speed of 431 kph, it covers the 30 km distance in about eight minutes. However, the Pudong station is quite inconvenient since it is at least 20 minutes by taxi to subway to the business district of central Pudong. But what a ride.
Since I had an early flight this morning, I took a train around 7:45 am. Before 9 AM and after 5 PM, the maximum speed of the train is reduced to 300 kph. It is noticeably slower than the experience of 430 kph, which the train only sustains for two minutes of the journey, but a fun early morning experience.
In my experience, there is only one faster method of transportation in Shanghai than the Maglev train. The taxi drivers. Driving in Shanghai is an art form in itself.
