Maglev is really hot recently. I can tell from the number of emails I received asking about the operation of Maglev. There is no such kind of good information on the web yet.
In the last few months, I have collected some and shared in the following articles:
- PVG: Maglev Started Carry Passengers
- PVG: Has Maglev Started Operation?
- Pudong Airport Maglev in Depth
- Tickets for Maglev Tour
- Maglev Operates in Shanghai
More articles can be found at PVG Category page (PVG is the international air code for Pudong Airport)
Recent Operation
Now the Maglev has started to take passengers at Pudong Airport and drop them off at Long Yang Road Station. The price for single trip is 75 RMB.
Location of Maglev Station
Steve asked:
Is the way to the maglev train from the arrivals area clearly marked? Are there signs in English as well as other languages.
Well. It may not be easy for people to find the station. Since there is not sign for the Maglev yet at the International Arrival Hall. You will get very confused when you get there. It is another proof of the poor usability of Pudong Airport. I feel it is my responsibility to post some pictures about how to get to the Maglev station.
After you get out of the International Arrivals Exit (shown below), find the sign pointing to Parking. It is on the second floor of the airport. You can arrive there either by using the escalator on the right or the elevator in front of the gate.
After you arrive on the second floor of the airport, follow the sign to the parking lot. Then you will see a long bridge from the airport to the parking lots. It is shown in the picture below:
© Jian Shuo Wang
After you enter the long hallway, you will see the first sign on the top pointing to Maglev. You can see the sign of Maglev Entrance with both English and Chinese name. The icon 
is interesting.
© Jian Shuo Wang
After you arrive the end of this hallway, you have entered the building of Maglev Station. There is even a KFC restraunant there. It may be good choice if you are really hungry after the long trip.
© Jian Shuo Wang
Below is the innovative roof of the Maglev Station.
© Jian Shuo Wang
Relationship between the Maglev Station and the Pudong Airport
Actually, the two buildings are seperate, but connected with a bridge. See my diagram below:
I happen to find out another picture I took after the plane just departed on my trip to Xiamen.
It is highly appreciated if someone can share with others about your REAL experience to take the Maglev train – I haven’t get a chance to give it a try yet.
Thanks for your excellent directions and explanations. :)
Any ideas about carrying luggage on the Maglev? Are there any limitations?
I second William’s comments, great directions and explanations! Thanks.
Hi,
I tried searching for hotels that are near the Maglev station in downtown Shanghai (Pudong) but could not find any. Wonder if anyone can help provide such into to me.
Thanks!
There is almost no big hotel there. I live in that area so let me search for it and be back one day.
We will fly to Shanghai from Paris, France on Sept. 30. Your information on PVG and Maglev is very helpful. After reading your articles, we decided to give Maglev a try after arrival. And we would be happy to share our experience with you.
Thanks a lot!
Hi I’m from Australia and will be in Shanghai November, I didn’t get to see it when I was in Shanghai last year and don’t want to miss out this time, where exactly does it depoart from in Shanghai city, to the Airport?
John
John, check this page: http://home.wangjianshuo.com/archives/20040424_maglev_at_long_yang_station.htm
> Well. It may not be easy for people to find the station. Since there is not sign for the Maglev yet at the International Arrival
> Hall. You will get very confused when you get there.
This is no longer true. As of Oct. 2004, there are now clear signs pointing to the Maglev in the arrival hall.
(
However, the first time I got there, I noticed that where the arrow points right and UP to the upper floor where the bridge is, the escalator there was going DOWN, so I had to err around a bit to find another UP going one!
I was in just a bit of hurry, because my plane from Beijing arrived delayed and the very last Maglev of the day was going to leave soon! Barely made it to that one which left on time at 17:32! Pant, Pant!
)
Joachim
Can you provide any more information as to where the Mag Station is in relation to downtown Shanghai And Have you found any Hotels that are close by and also central to DownTown Shanghai
Thanks for any help you can give me I cannot find any information as to where the station is downtown
>Can you provide any more information as to where the Mag Station is in relation to downtown Shanghai And Have you found
>any Hotels that are close by and also central to DownTown Shanghai
>Thanks for any help you can give me I cannot find any information as to where the station is downtown
Haha, you cannot find it because there IS NO station downtown! (Why this is so, might be a whole different thread!)
Actually, the Maglev station at Long Yang road is about 5 Metro stops from downtown, depending on what you call “center” of downtown, maybe near He Nan Lu or near Peoples Square.
So, there are also no such hotels that are close by and central. BUT, the Metro ride to and from the above station is pretty easy, fast and save.
For Long Yang station see here
http://home.wangjianshuo.com/scripts/map/index.php?rx=4216&ry=2973&text=Maglev+LongYang+Station
For “downtown” (more than approx. 10km from Long Yang station!) see here
http://home.wangjianshuo.com/scripts/map/2600.2200.htm
The right red circular “Metro” sign is for He Nan Station on the center of the famous Nan Jing Lu, the two left ones belong to the large Peoples Square interchange station.
At what times are the first and last arrival/departure at Pudong airort?
Why does the Maglev run only from 08:30 to 17:30 hours? There must be a reason, but what is it?
>Why does the Maglev run only from 08:30 to 17:30 hours? There must be a reason, but what
> is it?
Apparently, nobody really knows why!
>At what times are the first and last arrival/departure at Pudong airort?
As you write, the first Maglev leaves LangYong at 8:20 and arrives at PuDong at 8:28. I also happened to get on the last one of the day some weeks ago, it departed from PuDong at 17:32 and reached LongYang at 17:40. On that trip,we passed another (last?) one going to the airport.
Joachim
>Why does the Maglev run only from 08:30 to 17:30 hours? There must be a reason, but what
> is it?
Apparently, nobody really knows why!
>At what times are the first and last arrival/departure at Pudong airort?
As you write, the first Maglev leaves LongYang at 8:20 and arrives at PuDong at 8:28. I also happened to get on the last one of the day some weeks ago, it departed from PuDong at 17:32 and reached LongYang at 17:40. On that trip,we passed another (last?) one going to the airport.
Joachim
Understand from the greyline that the revenue collected not longer covers the operating cost of Maglev, so operate at one shift can reduce the overhead.
Stephen
Jachim, I guess all the Maglev train finally will return to Pudong Airport for parking. It should not be parked in the Long Yang Station since the Airport has the facility to maintain it. I see a branch rail to the maintaince area from the Pudong Airport Station (it should be the third rail of Maglev besides the two in production). So the train you saw should not be the last passenger-taking train.
The train from Long Yang Road Station leave exactly at 8:20, 8:40, 9:00, 9:20, 9:40, 10:00 …..
Are there no shanghainese here who can call the authorities and ASK why they only run in bright daylight ? Are chinese afraid to contact the authorities ?!?
(After all it IS “People’s republic of China”. Or not ?)
Don’t think it’s fear, but people know it would not be likely to get a real answer.
carsten,
bigbro is right, even you as a foreigner to call authority direct will only receive a diplomatic reply.
When I was in Shanghai, I am told the erect of Maglev in Shanghai is to conduct a feasibility study to deploy the same all over China, now the study is over and the project is in dormant, the proving ground are suppose to be scrap, but 10 billions almost the same amount to build the PVG cannot be written off from the book, so the authority is facing dilemma and keep operating the Maglev to avoid it become a ‘white elephant’. The Maglev never was intended to serve the passagers of the PVG.
This is my version of the truth and I hope no offence to the people who regard Maglev as the lanmark of Shanghai.
Stephen
Hi,
Does the Maglev operates on Sat & Sun? And with the same time schedules? If they do, I would probably like to book a flight time so i can take the train from town to airport.
Thanks in advance!!!
Yes. It operates on Sat and Sun, with the same schedule
I will be traveling to PVG in late March. Was wondering how easy it would be to get myself, and my luggages from the Maglev station at Long Yang Station to the metro Long Yang Station? My concerns are getting my luggages through turn-gates and if I have to physically leave the Maglev station and walk to the meto station, is the walk way covered (in case it rains)?
You can call it covered, since there are two buildings and there were about 2 or three meters space that is not covered. Read this article: http://home.wangjianshuo.com/archives/20040424_maglev_at_long_yang_station.htm
several people have asked the same question – no response. Can you please tell me what I do with my luggage if I take meglev train from airport to Shanghai?
Thank you very much.
I need to go from Wuxi to Pudong and thought the Malev would be nice to include, but I can’t afford to make a detour for it,
I could go by train from Wuxi to Shanghai West, but is that close to Long Yang Road Station?
Thanks a lot, could not find it after hours of searching.
James
Pls update me on the operation hour and cost of the ticket?
thanks,
teddy
It is from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Cost of ticket is 50 RMB.
may i know from yang long road station is there any bus to changshu? please anybody advice
@edward, I am very sure there is no train from Maglev station at Long Yang road to Changshu.
Hi Jian Shuo –
Well it has been nearly 11 years since you first started writing about the Maglev here – and your explanations still seem to be the best on the internet! Thank you!
Amy
Thanks