Revival of an idea of a hyper loop maglev line between Shanghai and Hangzhou

Today, I came across an article from Baidu published in the last few years saying that a hyper loop maglev is under planning between Shanghai and Hangzhou. If completed, it would take only 15 minutes to travel between the two cities at around 1000km/h, as compared to 45 minutes on the current high speed rail at around 350km/h or 2-3.5 hours via regular trains. The line will be slated for completion in 2035.

In this plan, as it is a “hyperloop”, the train will travel in a vacuum tunnel to reduce air resistance and allow higher speeds unlike conventional maglev trains like Japan’s SCMaglev or Germany’s Transrapid. The project was researched by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC), who built the 2km test line from 2022-2023 in Datong, Shanxi Province for the testing of the trains. Currently, the T-flight train achieved a speed record of 623 km/h and CASIC is planning on extending the 2km track to 60km for further testing.

The idea was first mooted in 2006. It was planned to extend the current maglev line from Shanghai’s Longyang Road Station to Hangzhou, via the Shanghai South station, Expo 2010 and Hongqiao Airport to Hangzhou. However, as a conventional high speed rail line was completed in October 2010 between Shanghai and Hangzhou, the plan was shelved due to cost concerns. Also, the newly completed Airport link line linking Pudong and Hongqiao airports also likely to stop any plans for extension of the current maglev line.

The article will be shown in screenshots below:

Pictures

Conventional high speed trains runs on traditional tracks like the Harmony CRH2C EMU shown here.

The improved JR L0 Series maglev to be used on the upcoming Chuo maglev Shinkansen line by 2027 2034.

Currently, as of 20th February 2025, JR Central (or JR Tokai) is planning to produce a middle car “M10” to be added to the current improved L0-950 series maglev.

The surface of the M10 middle car is coated with fine grooves that resembles shark skin, reducing air resistance by approximately 1% and lowering energy consumption.

Source: https://japan-transportation.com/archives/7675

The Shanghai Maglev which runs between Longyang Road and Pudong Airport at 431km/h maximum speed. It uses the German Transrapid series of trains. The technology is developed by Siemens and Thyssenkrupp.

CRRC Maglev at Qingdao. It was first tested back in 2020 and was revealed at Qingdao in July 2021 as a prototype.

Sichuan Transportation University Maglev, unveiled on 13 January 2021 with a design speed of 620km/h. It uses liquid nitrogen for superconductivity.

New-gen CRRC Maglev

Artist’s impression of China’s T-Flight vacuum

References

https://amp.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3273825/china-tests-high-speed-hyperloop-flying-train-2km-vacuum-tube

http://www.goshanxi.com.cn/2023-12/08/c_945961.htm

https://globetrender.com/2025/01/03/china-t-flight-train-break-sound-barrier/

https://fortuneinsight.com/web/feature/881470/%E3%80%90%E9%99%B8%E4%B8%8A%E9%A3%9B%E6%A9%9F%E3%80%91%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B%E5%BB%BA%E7%9C%9F%E7%A9%BA%E7%AE%A1%E9%81%93%E7%A3%81%E6%B5%AE%E5%88%97%E8%BB%8A-%E6%99%82%E9%80%9F%E9%81%941%E5%8D%83%E5%85%AC%E9%87%8C%E6%AF%94%E5%AD%90%E5%BD%88%E6%9B%B4%E5%BF%AB/