Published by Swiss James on 09 Jul 2008 at 01:49 pm
The Maglev, Shanghai
Be warned, the camera falls off the windowsill halfway through.
Still, you get a decent run at it before then. Will try again tonight (and every night until I get it right damnitt!).
This is my nightly commute- Shanghai Pudong Airport to Longyang Station on the “first operational high-speed conventional maglev railway” (says wikipedia).
It’s been clocked at 501Km/h but nomally it tops out at 431Km/h in the daytime and just 301Km/h after 5pm when I take it. On the occasions that I get to ride it at the higher speed it really does feel like you’re flying along- and when it passes the other train going in the opposite direction- BAMN!- it’s a shock to the system.
Normally though it’s just a pretty smooth 8 minute journey to an obscure part of town where I can take the proper metro to get home.
Also on YouTube.
Video is at double-speed, song is “At Your Service” by Harold Fisher.
The Maglev would be awesome if it went to at least Nanjing Dong or People’s Square. As it is, its massively inconvinent if you have any luggage more than a shoulder bag and rolling carryon suitcase.
very true T.
I only have a laptop case so can make it home in about 40 minutes but with proper luggage I wouldn’t even consider making the transfer to the metro.
Best timelapse yet mate!
Love the music. Is that a theme tune for anything? If not, it should be. I’m thinking some sort of 1980s children’s futuristic mystery thriller serial.
cheers O!
I got it from here http://www.cosmicdisco.co.uk/2008/07/05/makin-music-july-2008/
really good radio show / podcast thingy.
It’s a very futuristic tune isn’t it? Can’t find out anything about the guy though
If I’m doing 1-3 day business trips with a roll-on, I’m perfectly happy to do the line 2 to Maglev transfer since taxis to pudong take about 30 minutes longer. Otherwise, lugging a big suitcase or bag up 2 flights of escalators, crossing a courtyard, then going up two more escalators, it’s absurd.
The other absurd thing is the ridiciously short operating hours. I once got back at 10pm from Hong Kong and still missed the maglev.
Hi James.
Glad you like the track.
I’ve left some info on the composer of the above mentioned track on our forum:
http://www.cosmicdisco.co.uk/board
Jump in… ;-)
T- yeah it stops at about 9:30pm. I guess it’s too expensive to run outside peak hours
baggy- cheers for that! I’m going to be a regular listener to the show now
It used to stop at 5.30pm so 9.30pm is a big improvement!
have never been on it, but am thinking to go to longyang just to take it, for the fun.
how much is a roundtrip
Round trip is 80RMB- single is 50 (or 40 if you have a valid ticket for today).
I normally take the train at 18:22, 18:42, 19:02 these sorts of times and in recent months it’s always packed. Strange that they didn’t use to run it at what seem like peak times now.
It feels great waving to those taxis on the A20. Wish they will make up their mind about the extensions to Hongqiao airport and Hangzhou. What radiation poisoning?
Interesting film.
If you do do it again tomorrow (and until you get it right, god damn it!) try not to get the sun shining directly at the camera- difficult to see anything. Also, try not to have a person sat in the seat in front of you- he is very distracting!
Wow, that maglev video was fascinating. All the thrill of sitting on a train without the annoying nuisance of getting somewhere. Can you do one for the elevator?
James sitting on the opposite side would get rid of the sun or film it on the way their instead of back and that guy really is annoying, could you tell him to sit still for just 20 minutes, godamnit!