CRRC has unveiled its 600 km/h high-speed maglev train, aimed at bridging the speed gap between conventional high-speed rail (typically 350 km/h) and air travel (900–1,000 km/h).
At the 12th UIC World Congress on High-Speed Rail, held in Beijing from 8–11 July 2025, CRRC showcased the maglev alongside 21 others rail vehicles including the newly developed CR450 prototype EMU, Fuxing intelligent EMU and the Lancang train, used for the Kunming – Laos line, as well as smart intercity EMUs. The suite of presented innovations not only constructs a robust technological framework for 400 km/h electrical multiple units, but also fosters comprehensive advancements in theory, technology, equipment, standards, and management practices.
The high-speed maglev train has various potential applications and can be used for high-speed commuting within city clusters, integrated transport between core cities, and long-distance, efficiently connected corridor transport.
Developed solely in China, the high-speed maglev train features cutting-edge rail technologies, according to the manufacturer, CRRC Qingdao Sifang, a subsidiary of the state-owned China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation.
The train uses electromagnets to suspend itself above the rails, and because there is no friction from contact with the rail lines, it can operate quietly and smoothly.
The benefits of the train include high speed, safety, reliability, large passenger capacity, environmental sustainability, and low maintenance costs. It is designed to fill the gap between conventional high-speed rail services, with a maximum operating speed of 350 km/h, and aircraft, which cruise at speeds of 900 to 1,000 km/h.
In terms of innovation, magnetic levitation technology involves a variety of fundamental materials such as rare earth elements and composites. Research and development in these areas will help drive the growth of China’s foundational industries.
In July 2021, China’s first high-speed maglev train with a top speed of 600 km/h rolled off the production line in Qingdao, Shandong Province. This train will undergo testing and trials over several years before entering commercial service. The company is currently constructing maglev test tracks at the CRRC Changchun plant to facilitate a wide range of tests.
The train is expected to enter commercial operation within five to ten years and significantly reduce rail travel times. For example, the journey between Beijing and Shanghai by high-speed train could be cut from around five hours to approximately two and a half hours.
China should accelerate performance verification and the commercialisation of its 600 km/h high-speed maglev train to better compete with established global peers, the State Council of China stated in 2023, citing CRRC Corporation’s board chairman, Sun Yongcai. “The government should authorise operational performance tests at speeds below 500 km/h to be conducted during night-time operations on a high-speed maglev line in Shanghai,” said the CRRC board chairman.
In addition, “the construction of commercial maglev lines for this type of train should also be considered and promoted by the government domestically,” Sun Yongcai added. He is also a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.
The world’s first commercial maglev line, capable of speeds reaching 430 km/h, was launched in Shanghai in 2002. It employs German technology and connects a metro station with Shanghai Pudong International Airport.
Japan is a serious maglev competitor
A key competitor to the Chinese maglev is the Japanese high-speed maglev train, which reached 603 km/h in 2015 on an experimental track in Yamanashi. Japan plans to launch commercial maglev services operating at a maximum speed of 505 km/h on the Chuo Shinkansen line, according to Central Japan Railway (JR Central). JR Central initially expected to open the line in 2027, but the completion has been delayed until 2034. The line will connect Tokyo and Nagoya, with plans to extend the route to Osaka.
The project is being implemented in two phases. The first phase covers a 286 km stretch from Tokyo to Nagoya. The second phase involves extending the line to Osaka. When fully completed, the line will be 438 km long and is expected to be finished during the 2030s. Once operational, travel time on the high-speed maglev train will be dramatically reduced—from the current 2.5 to 3 hours via the Shinkansen to approximately one hour.
The most significant challenge is the cost of the project, estimated at JPY 9 trillion (USD 60.4 billion), which includes extensive tunnelling through mountains and the construction of elevated tracks to navigate Japan’s rugged terrain and densely populated urban areas.
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