Shanghai Maglev Train

Photo album and video
Google video



I put together a short video of the Shanghai Maglev train.

The ride was a little bumpier than I would have thought, and it felt different than a normal track-bound train. Perhaps it was my imagination, but I could almost feel the train bouncing up and down as it whooshed along the magnetic tracks.

The contrast between the super high technology of the train and the misty farmland and crumbling structures (perhaps soon to be rebuilt as new apartment complexes) was striking.

Here is the official Shanghai Maglev promo video (in German):
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5648185659206490564

Some more videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weWmTldrOyo (detailed explanation)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0I1_5lZ2mU (good background music)

Taiwan High-Speed Rail

http://www.johnfan1.com/Public/2007-01-11_hsr.html

The Taiwan High-Speed Rail (a.k.a. Taiwan “shinkansen”) was finally completed, and I took the train after 1 week of operation. Surprisingly there were tickets available and the tickets (half price right now) were inexpensive -- only NT$500 (about USD $15).



It took me 1 hour and 30 minutes to go from Banchiao (near Taipei) to Chiayi, Despite the problems presented in the media, it was a smooth ride and a good experience. Inside, the car felt like a Japanese shinkansen. This will make the south of Taiwan much more accessible for tourists.

As another example of a “last mile” problem, it took almost as long to get to my destination (by bus and taxi) after I arrived at the Chiayi high-speed station, which is a distance away from the city center.