CHINA has begun a trial run of its first magnetic levitation train, completely designed and built by local firms, marking a major leap in the technological capability of the country’s rail transport sector, Xinhua reported.

    The so-called maglev, with a maximum speed of 100 kilometers per hour, began ferrying passengers on the 18.5-kilometer-long line in the southern city of Changsha on Friday, Xinhua said, adding that the project cost 4.29 billion yuan (US$659.59 million).

    The train works by floating on a magnetic field along a guideway, which allows for higher speeds and reduces friction.

    “China has become one of the few nations to have mastered this technology,” Xinhua said.

    (SD-Agencies)