Debunking the Myth: China's CRRC 600 km/h Maglev Train Doesn't Actually Exist

 

This screenshot of China's 600 km/h is taken from the CGTB  2022 youtube channel. CGTN is funded in whole or in part by the Chinese government. None show the train travelling at the speeds they suggest.

The Hype vs. Reality: Separating Fact from Fiction in High-Speed Rail

I have been interested in maglev since the 1986 Expo in Vancouver, BC when Japan's HSST maglev vehicle was showcased. However, maglev never took off as a transit option.

In recent years, international media outlets have breathlessly reported that China has developed a revolutionary maglev train capable of reaching 600 kilometers per hour (373 mph). Headlines have proclaimed China's dominance in high-speed rail technology, with some articles suggesting these trains are already operating or on the verge of commercial deployment. However, a closer examination of the evidence reveals a significant gap between the marketing hype and engineering reality.

This screenshot from the same CGTB  2022 youtube channel. The only movement in the video is the vehicle lifting off the track 10mm. 

CGTB latest video from Donghu lab test june 2025, shows this machinery on a test vehicle that actually moves at a high-speed. But as you can see, this is not the CRRC 600maglev train model. The truth is China is behind Japan and does not have any working maglev trains travelling at 600  km/h.

What China Actually Has: A Static Display, Not a Working Train

The CRRC 600, unveiled in July 2021 at the CRRC Qingdao Sifang factory, is best described as a full-scale mockup or static display prototype rather than a functional high-speed maglev train. While the physical trainset exists and has been showcased at various exhibitions, there is no verified evidence that this specific vehicle has ever traveled at or near its claimed 600 km/h design speed.

The Test Track Problem

According to multiple sources, testing of early prototype components began in 2020 on a severely limited 1.5-kilometer test track at Tongji University in Shanghai[1][2]. This track length is physically insufficient to accelerate a maglev train to anywhere near 600 km/h. For context, the existing Shanghai Maglev, which reaches 430 km/h in commercial service, requires significantly more distance to reach its top speed.

The CRRC itself has acknowledged that "testing the train to its maximum speed would require extension of the test track, as maglev trains are unable to use regular high speed railway tracks"[1]. Despite this admission made years ago, no extended test facility has been built or documented for the CRRC 600 project.

June 2020: Low-Speed Debugging, Not High-Speed Testing

When the prototype conducted its first "test run" in June 2020, Chinese state media reported that "the prototype didn't run at 600 km/h, but at a much lower speed as an operational debugging test"[3]. This was described as testing basic levitation and guidance systems, not high-speed performance validation. Even this limited test generated "crucial data" about the maglev system's basic functionality, suggesting the project was still in very early stages.

The Confusion: Other Maglev Projects Create False Impressions

Adding to the confusion, China has multiple separate maglev research programs, leading many to conflate different projects:

The Donghu Laboratory Test (June 2025)

In June 2025, researchers at Donghu Laboratory in Hubei Province successfully accelerated a 1.1-tonne test vehicle to 650 km/h on a 1-kilometer test track[4]. This achievement was widely reported and generated impressive headlines. However, this was an experimental sled or small-scale test vehicle, not a passenger-carrying train prototype. The vehicle reached this speed in approximately 7 seconds over just 600 meters before braking[4].

This test vehicle is part of a completely different research program focused on electromagnetic propulsion technology, not the CRRC 600 passenger train project that has been promoted since 2019.

The T-Flight Ultra-High-Speed Vacuum Tube System

Another separate project, the T-Flight system, combines maglev technology with low-vacuum tube technology (similar to Hyperloop concepts). This experimental system conducted trials in Shanxi Province and aims for eventual speeds of 1,000 km/h or higher[5]. However, this is also a distinct research program, not the CRRC 600 commercial passenger train.

What Actually Exists in Maglev Technology Today

To understand the reality of maglev deployment, it's important to examine what actually operates versus what exists only in laboratories or as promotional materials.

The Shanghai Maglev: Still the Only Game in Town

Opened in 2002, the Shanghai Maglev remains China's only commercially operational maglev line carrying regular passengers. Built using German Transrapid technology, it connects Pudong International Airport to the city center over a 30-kilometer route, reaching speeds of 430 km/h in commercial service[6]. This 23-year-old line represents China's sole maglev infrastructure investment in actual passenger service.

Since the Shanghai Maglev opened over two decades ago, China has not built a single additional commercial maglev line, despite repeated announcements of ambitious projects.

Japan's Chūō Shinkansen: Under Construction, But Delayed

Japan has been developing the Chūō Shinkansen, a superconducting maglev line between Tokyo and Nagoya, using their proprietary SCMaglev technology. The L0 Series test trains have achieved the world speed record of 603 km/h (375 mph) during testing on the Yamanashi test track[7].

However, it's crucial to note that the Yamanashi facility is a test track, not a commercial passenger line. While members of the public can apply via lottery to experience test rides, this is part of the development program, not regular commercial service. The commercial Chūō Shinkansen line is currently under construction but has faced significant delays, with the opening now pushed to at least 2034-2035, years behind the original 2027 target[8].

South Korea's Limited Maglev Operations

South Korea operates a low-to-medium speed maglev line between Incheon Airport and Yongyu station, opened in 2016. This urban transit line operates at much lower speeds than high-speed maglev concepts and represents a different category of technology application.

The Track Record of Unfulfilled Promises

The pattern of announcements versus delivery in China's maglev program reveals a significant credibility gap:

• 2016: CRRC announces development of 600 km/h maglev system
• 2019: Prototype mockup unveiled with claims of imminent testing
• 2020: Limited low-speed debugging tests on 1.5 km track
• 2021: Full-scale trainset unveiled and exhibited, described as ready for commercial production by 2021 (which never materialized)
• 2023: Same trainset displayed at exhibitions, now with claims of future deployment by 2025
• 2025: Still no operational line, no high-speed test results, and commercial service timeline pushed to "within 5-10 years"

Why the Lack of Progress?

Several factors explain why the CRRC 600 remains a static display rather than an operational system:

Infrastructure Requirements

Building a maglev line requires entirely new, dedicated guideway infrastructure. Unlike conventional high-speed rail, maglev trains cannot use existing tracks. The estimated cost for the proposed Shanghai-Hangzhou maglev line alone was approximately £15.5 billion, contributing to the cancellation or indefinite postponement of multiple proposed routes[9].

Technical Challenges at Extreme Speeds

Operating at 600 km/h presents substantial engineering challenges beyond the capabilities demonstrated on the Shanghai Maglev's 430 km/h service. Aerodynamic effects, including tunnel boom phenomena, electromagnetic interference, and energy consumption, scale non-linearly with speed. Chinese researchers have acknowledged these challenges, noting that tunnel booms become problematic at 600 km/h in tunnels as short as 2 kilometers[10].

Economic Viability Questions

The business case for ultra-high-speed maglev remains unproven. The Shanghai Maglev, despite operating for over 20 years, has never been financially successful and is sometimes described as a prestige project rather than a profitable transport solution. The significantly higher infrastructure costs compared to conventional high-speed rail make the economic argument even more challenging at 600 km/h.

Media's Role in Perpetuating the Myth

International media outlets have repeatedly published articles with misleading headlines claiming China "has" or "unveils" a 600 km/h maglev train, often using dramatic language about "floating bullets" and comparisons to jet aircraft speeds. These articles frequently:

• Use promotional images and computer renderings as if they depict operational technology
• Conflate different research projects into a single narrative
• Fail to distinguish between design specifications, prototype displays, and actual operational systems
• Repeat claims from previous years without updating readers on the lack of progress
• Rely heavily on statements from project developers without independent verification

The result is a public perception that China has achieved a breakthrough that doesn't match the on-the-ground reality.

Conclusion: Promises vs. Performance

While China deserves credit for maintaining the world's most extensive conventional high-speed rail network and for investing in maglev research, the claim that China has a 600 km/h maglev train is, at best, highly misleading. What exists is a static display prototype that has never been demonstrated to reach its claimed speeds, tested on inadequate infrastructure, with no commercial deployment timeline that has proven credible.

The Shanghai Maglev, now over 20 years old, remains China's only operational maglev line. Despite decades of announcements about revolutionary new systems, no additional maglev infrastructure carrying regular passengers has been built by China since 2002. Meanwhile, Japan continues to hold the world speed record for maglev trains at 603 km/h, achieved during actual high-speed testing, and is actively constructing the world's first long-distance commercial maglev line, albeit behind schedule.

For readers evaluating high-speed rail claims, the lesson is clear: distinguish carefully between marketing announcements, static prototypes, research experiments, and actual operational systems carrying passengers. In the case of China's 600 km/h maglev, the gap between the hype and reality remains vast.

Paul Langan, Founder High-Speed Rail Canada

References

[1] CRRC Maglev. Wikipedia. Retrieved December 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CRRC_Maglev

[2] "China builds world's fastest train, capable of 600 km/h." CBC News, July 21, 2021. https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/china-fastest-train-1.6110819

[3] "China's 600 km/h high-speed maglev prototype completes successful trial run." CGTN, June 21, 2020. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-06-21/China-s-600-km-h-high-speed-maglev-completes-trial-run-RvueeEECTm/index.html

[4] "China breaks record with maglev train hitting 650 km/h in 7 seconds." CGTN, June 18, 2025. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-06-18/China-breaks-record-with-maglev-train-hitting-650-km-h-in-7-seconds-1EiKPFJGJH2/p.html

[5] "Ultra fast maglev train clears trial in Shanxi." China Daily via ECNS, September 12, 2024. http://www.ecns.cn/news/sci-tech/2024-09-12/detail-ihehacvq3190409.shtml

[6] "China's maglev train prototype is fast! Speed is 600 kph (327 mph)." CNN Travel, May 24, 2019. https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/china-highspeed-maglev-prototype/index.html

[7] Maglev. Wikipedia. Retrieved December 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maglev

[8] "China accelerates its maglev train to catch up with Japan." Asia Times, July 21, 2025. https://asiatimes.com/2025/07/china-accelerates-its-maglev-train-to-catch-up-with-japan/

[9] Maglev. Wikipedia. Section on proposed lines. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maglev

[10] "China Launches 600 km/h Maglev, Cutting Rail Times Nearly in Half." Parametric Architecture, August 11, 2025. https://parametric-architecture.com/china-launches-600-km-h-maglev/