(Yicai Global) June 22 -- A new super-fast magnetic-levitation train developed by China was put through its paces in Shanghai yesterday, successfully reaching speeds of 600 kilometers an hour, just three km/h short of Japan’s world record.

Developed by CRRC Qingdao Sifang, one of China’s biggest rolling stock makers, the prototype train demonstrated stable suspension guidance and a sound operational state during the tests, Xinhua News Agency reported today, citing Ding Sansan, head of the research and development team and deputy chief engineer at CRRC.

All key technical indicators met the design requirements and expectations, Ding said.

A rail network that runs trains at 600 km/h, similar to the cruising speed of a passenger jet, is an important goal of China’s Ministry of Science and Technology that aims to fill the gap between bullet train speeds of 200 km/h to 350 km/h and the aviation sector. Mass production of the new train is expected to start before the end of the year.

In the four years since Qingdao-based CRRC won the contract, it has had to develop a whole new set of technical and engineering capabilities based on existing core technologies. The development of the prototype progressed smoothly, Xinhua said.

Editor: Kim Taylor