**BEIJING, August 2025** —China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) has unveiled a prototype of a high-speed maglev train designed to reach 600 km/h, aiming to bridge the gap between conventional high-speed rail and air travel, particularly for distances up to 2,000 kilometers.

The prototype was developed by CRRC’s Qingdao Sifang unit and has been tested on dedicated tracks in Qingdao and Shanghai. Officials describe the train as a potential “point-to-point transport tool” that could significantly reshape long-distance travel within China.

If deployed on the Beijing–Shanghai corridor, the 600 km/h maglev could reduce travel time to around 2.5 hours, compared to the current 4–5 hours on China’s fastest high-speed rail services. The route is one of the busiest in the world, making it a prime candidate for next-generation rail technology.

Engineers have also addressed one of the biggest challenges for ultra-fast trains: the “tunnel boom” effect, caused by shock waves when trains enter tunnels at high speed. Chinese researchers report that new porous buffers and tunnel wall coatings can cut pressure waves by up to 96% in lab tests, reducing noise and improving passenger comfort.

Unlike the Shanghai Maglev Airport Line, which uses German Transrapid technology, the new CRRC maglev is a fully domestic project. There is no confirmed licensing or collaboration with ThyssenKrupp or Transrapid in the current design, highlighting China’s push for homegrown innovation in rail technology.

While the prototype has not yet entered commercial service, its debut underscores China’s ambition to remain at the forefront of advanced rail systems. If successfully implemented, the maglev could transform long-distance ground travel, offering airline-competitive journey times with the comfort and efficiency of rail.