Not an Airport III "SMT"

Shanghai Maglev Train (Shanghai Transrapid) (Chinese: 上海磁浮示范运营线; Pinyin: Shànghǎi Cífú Shìfàn Yùnyíng Xiàn; literally "Shanghai Magnetic Levitation Demonstration Operation Line") is the first commercial high-speed maglev line in the world. Construction began in March, 2001, and public service commenced on January 1, 2004. The train was made in Germany with German technology.

The train can reach 350 km/h (220 mph) in 2 minutes, with a maximum speed in normal operation of 431 km/h (268 mph). During a test run on 12 November 2003, the vehicle achieved a top speed of 501 km/h (311 mph). The Shanghai Transrapid project took 10 billion yuan (1.33 billion US dollars or Au$1.49 Billion) and 2.5 years to complete the 30.5 km (19 mi)

track.

The train runs from Longyang Road station in Pudong on the Shanghai subway line 2 to Pudong International Airport, and the total track length is about 30 kilometres, with an additional, separate track leading to a maintenance facility. The train takes 7 minutes and 20 seconds to complete the journey, and its top operational speed is 431 kilometers per hour.

As of November 2006, the one way ticket price is 50 renminbi (RMB) (about $6.33 US dollars) and 40 RMB (US$5.06) for airline passengers with proof of an airline ticket purchase receipt (plane boarding passes are not acceptable). One-way VIP ticket costs 100 RMB (US $12.66). A round-trip ticket costs 80 RMB (US$10.13).

• Operating times: 7:00 to 21:00
• Highest Speed: 431 km/h (268 mph) (Normal Times) or 300 km/h (186 mph) (Extend Times)
• Run time: 7 mins and 20 sec. in Normal Times, while 8 mins and 10 sec. in extend times
• Normal Times is 8:30-17:00, Extend Time is 7:00 to 8:30 and 17:00-21:00
• Interval: 15 mins.

What's next for the SMT......... Could be Shanghai to Hangzhou by 2010:)

Not an airport "THSR"

The Taiwan High Speed Rail (Traditional Chinese: 台灣高速鐵路, also known as the THSR) is Taiwan's high-speed rail network, running approximately 335.50 kilometers (208 mi) from Taipei City to Kaohsiung City, which began operations on January 5, 2007. Adopting Japan's Shinkansen technology for the core system, the THSR uses the Taiwan High Speed 700T train, manufactured by a consortium of Japanese companies, most notably Kawasaki Heavy Industries^[1]. The total cost of the project is currently estimated to be US$15 billion,^[2] and is the one of the largest privately funded transport schemes to date. Express trains capable of travelling at up to 300 km/h (186 mph)^[3] travel from Taipei City to Kaohsiung City in roughly 90 minutes as opposed to 4-6 hours by conventional rail^[4], although regular scheduled THSR trains take approximately two hours when incorporating all the stops.

We all knew a friend or 2 involved..........