Monday, May 1, 2006; Posted: 12:59 p.m. EDT (16:59 GMT)
BEIJING, China (AP) -- China successfully tested a locally made magnetic levitation train, the first time the country has achieved the feat without using foreign technology, state media reported Monday.
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The maglev train was developed by a research team at the university, one of China's key engineering schools, Xinhua reported. The technology uses powerful magnets to suspend a train above a track and propel it at high speeds.
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China is home to the world's first commercially operating maglev train, which links one of Shanghai's airports with the city's financial district.
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The Chinese government said earlier that work will begin this year on a second maglev line linking Shanghai and the resort city of Hangzhou, a $4.4-billion, high-speed line that can run trains at up to 280 mph.
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more:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/05/01/china.maglev.ap/index.htmlMass transit for the masses. I guess Bangladesh will have maglev before the US gets around to taking passenger rail seriously again.