Superconducting maglev in China
Alongside its Transrapid-based train, China is developing two superconducting approaches: an electrodynamic prototype from CRRC Changchun and a high-temperature superconducting vehicle from Southwest Jiaotong University. Both are still at the research stage.
A Chinese answer to the SCMaglev
CRRC Changchun first showed its 600 km/h superconducting maglev in July 2024 and presented the lead car again at the UIC World Congress in Beijing in July 2025. Like Japan's SCMaglev, it uses electrodynamic suspension, here with high-temperature superconducting magnets.
The train runs on rubber wheels at low speed and lifts off above about 150 km/h. Reported gaps are 100 mm for levitation and 70 mm for guidance, in a U-shaped guideway. CRRC describes it as a supplement to the existing network for point-to-point connections. No high-speed test results have been published.
Floating on frozen magnets
HTS levitation is passive: once cooled, the vehicle simply stays where it floats.
On 13 January 2021, Southwest Jiaotong University (SWJTU) in Chengdu presented an engineering prototype and a 165 m test line, with a design speed of 620 km/h. Partners included CRRC and China Railway Group.
The principle is flux pinning. High-temperature superconductors in the vehicle are cooled with liquid nitrogen and lock themselves above a track made of permanent magnets. No control electronics are needed to keep the vehicle stable. The test line is far too short for high-speed runs and is used for demonstrations; students from the United States rode it in July 2026.
Fact sheet
- CRRC Changchun principle
- Electrodynamic suspension, high-temperature superconducting magnets
- CRRC Changchun design speed
- 600 km/h
- CRRC Changchun gaps
- 100 mm levitation, 70 mm guidance (reported)
- SWJTU principle
- HTS flux pinning above a permanent-magnet track
- SWJTU design speed
- 620 km/h
- SWJTU test line
- 165 m, Chengdu (2021)
- Status
- Research and prototypes, no line planned