China’s first permanent magnetic levitation air train “Xingguo” will start trial operation in July after the ongoing debugging stage. This is the first time that permanent magnet levitation technology has been applied to an air train in the world.

The project started construction in February 2021 and was jointly developed by Jiangxi University of Science and Technology and China Railway Science and Industry Group Co., Ltd.

The “Xingguo” train features a suspended monorail structure and is designed to run at a speed of 80 kph. The main part of the trial track is an 800-meter-long elevated single track, with a double track reserved for future operation.

With its non-contact traction system, the “Xingguo” air train embraces advantages like strong climbing ability, smaller turning radius, lower noise, and zero electromagnetic pollution.

China is the third country after Germany and Japan to have developed non-contact traction technology.

The technology is suitable not only for conventional environments like urban scenic areas, commercial districts, and specialty towns, but also for geographically difficult areas like those on the lakeside, along the coast, in a frigid zone, and on desert land.