The Changsha Maglev Express Line, China's first medium-and-low speed maglev line under commercial operation, marked its 10th anniversary on May 6. 

As of May 5, 2026, the line had operated more than 559,600 maglev train trips, with an operation mileage of 10.3363 million km and a passenger volume of 26.2493 million.

Spanning 18.55 kilometers, this maglev line links Changsha South Railway Station with Changsha Huanghua International Airport. Over the past decade, it has built a full-chain innovation ecosystem encompassing "research breakthroughs, research outcome commercialization, and standards promotion," becoming a benchmark for independent innovation, safe operation, public service, and industry leadership.

The Changsha Maglev Express has focused on making breakthroughs in core technologies, continuously achieving technological advances in key areas such as route optimization, track panel technology upgrades, turnout vibration and noise reduction, braking system enhancement, and train body lightweighting. Many of these technologies have been applied to the maglev projects nationwide. Additionally, the Changsha Maglev Express has also delved into research on specialized technologies, completing dozens of technological breakthroughs including contact rail anti-freezing, snow barrier devices, and intelligent operation and maintenance, building a technical reserve covering all scenarios and the full lifecycle.

The Changsha Maglev Express has strengthened the development of standards and intellectual property, formulating dozens of industry and local standards and obtaining over 40 patents. It has published multiple monographs and professional textbooks, and has actively participated in the formulation of national, industry, and local standards, becoming a key contributor to the technical specifications and knowledge system in the medium-and-low speed maglev sector.

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn.  

Translator: Pang Yuehui

Chinese source: Chinanews