Contribution and Applicability: Experience of High-Speed Maglev System in Land-Side Transportation of Shanghai Putong International Airport

Among many airport rail links in the world, Shanghai Maglev Demonstration Line is the unique rail using high-speed magnetic levitation technique. On airport rail link, the passengers have very higher travel time value than on other urban rail, requiring more time reliability, more comfort and more convenience. The high-speed maglev transportation system has excellent characteristics to meet the requirement of these passengers. Shanghai Maglev Demonstration Line, covering a distance of 30km, was designed to connect Shanghai Pudong International Airport and the city. The journey time is just under eight minutes, at top speed of 430 km/h. This research consists of the investigation on the land-side transport systems' operation and service condition in Pudong International Airport, and of analysis on the passengers' comments and actual choices of various ground transport modes. Based on the above works, this paper tries to evaluate the contribution and deficiency of high-speed maglev transportation, and to discuss the applicability of this new transportation system, particularly when it is applied in the land-side transportation of large hub airport. It provides an empirical and specific case using for reference on the future application of maglev transportation system.