Maglev tech firms racing to the top

Cutting-edge technology: A file picture showing people at China’s high-speed maglev train testing in Qingdao. The country should accelerate the pace of performance verification and commercialisation of its 600km-per-hour maglev trains, say experts. — Xinhua

BEIJING: China should accelerate the pace of performance verification and commercialisation of its 600km-per-hour magnetic levitation (maglev) trains to better compete with established global peers, says the top executive of the country’s largest train manufacturer.

To reach this goal, Sun Yongcai, board chairman of state-owned CRRC Corp Ltd – the country’s largest rolling stock manufacturer by production volume – suggested the government authorise operational performance tests at speeds below 500km/h be conducted during night-time operations at a maglev line in Shanghai.