China`s Prime Minister and Germany`s Chancellor put the Transrapid Line to the Test

Shanghai. The world`s first commercial Transrapid line has reached an important milestone in Shanghai today in the presence of Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and Prime Minister Zhu Rongji. At 10:10 am local time, the superspeed maglev train started on its maiden trip from Shanghai`s Long Yang Road station to Pudong International airport and back, carrying prominent passengers. On the 30 kilometers long route the Transrapid reached the operating speed of 430 km/h planned for scheduled operation which is expected to start in Shanghai in 2004.

After the ride, the chief executives of Siemens AG, Dr. Heinrich v. Pierer, and of ThyssenKrupp AG, Professor Dr. Ekkehard Schulz, spoke of "a notable success for the new German railroad technology". "By building the Transrapid route in record time we have proved that outstanding technological achievements can be attained even in a complex large-scale project. We are quite confident that we will keep the deadline for completion and commissioning of the route", emphasized Dr. v. Pierer in Shanghai. Professor Dr. Schulz stated that with the opening of the Transrapid line in the Chinese metropolis "a new era of railroad traffic" will begin. "I am certain that not only Germany, but many countries will follow the Chinese example."

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