Doubts arise about Shanghai-Hangzhou maglev project
Doubts arise about Shanghai-Hangzhou maglev project
17:31, March 17, 2010 
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Netizens are casting doubts about the benefits of the Shanghai-Hangzhou magnetic levitation (maglev) railway project recently approved by the Ministry of Railways. The same day the approval of the railway was announced, an article titled the "Shanghai-Hangzhou Maglev Project Costs Tens of Billions of Yuan but Only Saves 10 Minutes" was posted on the Internet, attracting much attention from netizens. Many people asked, "Do we really need to build a maglev railway between Shanghai and Hangzhou?"
Only 10 minutes saved
The article compares 3 speeds: The existing EMU trains go from Shanghai to Hangzhou in 78 minutes. After completion of a high-speed railway in late 2010, the trip will take 48 minutes and maglev trains can make the trip in 38 minutes. That is to say, construction of the maglev project requires tens of billions of yuan, but only saves 10 minutes.
When approving the Shanghai-Hangzhou maglev project in March 2006, the Ministry of Railways estimated that the construction of the project will require 35 billion yuan.
Supervision called
Several years later, a statement made by an official from the Ministry of Railways again caused a debate. Most netizens doubted if we really need to invest tens of billions of yuan to save 10 minutes. Does China have too much money?
Some netizens say relevant government bodies should analyze the passenger load and then decide if the project should be launched. Meanwhile, relevant government bodies should clearly explain where the investment will come from and how the return rate will be calculated. In a word, netizens say that information about such an important project should be disclosed. More netizens say we should carefully research the project. They also feel the general public and the people's congress at all levels should supervise the project before it begins.
Inquiries turned down
Reporters called March 15 afternoon to the Publicity Department of the Ministry of Railways and an official there explained that the "approval of the Shanghai-Hangzhou maglev project," which was stated by Zheng in an interview March 13, did not mean that the project was newly approved - In fact, the project was approved in 2007 along with a high-speed railway project. When the Ministry announced that "detailed research on the project is underway," it did not imply that the construction of the maglev project is going to begin. For the questions from netizens on whether the maglev project should be built, since there will be a high-speed railway line between Shanghai and Hangzhou, the official said that the question should be answered by the National Development and Reform Committee (NDRC) and the governments of Shanghai and Zhejiang.
An official from the Shanghai Municipal Government news office was unwilling to make any comments and told reporters to inquire the NDRC. As to whether the maglev project that was earlier announced by the Zhejiang provincial government will be implemented as scheduled, an official from the Zhejiang Provincial Development and Reform Commission said, "I know nothing more than you do on this case" before immediately hanging up the phone. The telephone calls to the NDRC's spokesperson and the Department of Basic Industries did not receive any answer during the entire afternoon.
Existing maglev line facing heavy losses
Netizens are concerned not only about the huge maintenance and operating costs of the maglev project, but also the low frequency magnetic field created by the project that will seriously affect the health of residents near the line. According to reports, Shanghai invested 12 billion yuan in the existing Pudong Airport-Longyanglu maglev line, and the 31-kilometer long pilot maglev line has produced huge losses as high as several hundred million yuan per year since it started operations. Shanghai once attempted to extend the existing maglev line in 2007, but the project stagnated at the initial research period because of objections from numerous residents who raised concerns over radiation and relocation issues.
By People's Daily Online
Only 10 minutes saved
The article compares 3 speeds: The existing EMU trains go from Shanghai to Hangzhou in 78 minutes. After completion of a high-speed railway in late 2010, the trip will take 48 minutes and maglev trains can make the trip in 38 minutes. That is to say, construction of the maglev project requires tens of billions of yuan, but only saves 10 minutes.
When approving the Shanghai-Hangzhou maglev project in March 2006, the Ministry of Railways estimated that the construction of the project will require 35 billion yuan.
Supervision called
Several years later, a statement made by an official from the Ministry of Railways again caused a debate. Most netizens doubted if we really need to invest tens of billions of yuan to save 10 minutes. Does China have too much money?
Some netizens say relevant government bodies should analyze the passenger load and then decide if the project should be launched. Meanwhile, relevant government bodies should clearly explain where the investment will come from and how the return rate will be calculated. In a word, netizens say that information about such an important project should be disclosed. More netizens say we should carefully research the project. They also feel the general public and the people's congress at all levels should supervise the project before it begins.
Inquiries turned down
Reporters called March 15 afternoon to the Publicity Department of the Ministry of Railways and an official there explained that the "approval of the Shanghai-Hangzhou maglev project," which was stated by Zheng in an interview March 13, did not mean that the project was newly approved - In fact, the project was approved in 2007 along with a high-speed railway project. When the Ministry announced that "detailed research on the project is underway," it did not imply that the construction of the maglev project is going to begin. For the questions from netizens on whether the maglev project should be built, since there will be a high-speed railway line between Shanghai and Hangzhou, the official said that the question should be answered by the National Development and Reform Committee (NDRC) and the governments of Shanghai and Zhejiang.
An official from the Shanghai Municipal Government news office was unwilling to make any comments and told reporters to inquire the NDRC. As to whether the maglev project that was earlier announced by the Zhejiang provincial government will be implemented as scheduled, an official from the Zhejiang Provincial Development and Reform Commission said, "I know nothing more than you do on this case" before immediately hanging up the phone. The telephone calls to the NDRC's spokesperson and the Department of Basic Industries did not receive any answer during the entire afternoon.
Existing maglev line facing heavy losses
Netizens are concerned not only about the huge maintenance and operating costs of the maglev project, but also the low frequency magnetic field created by the project that will seriously affect the health of residents near the line. According to reports, Shanghai invested 12 billion yuan in the existing Pudong Airport-Longyanglu maglev line, and the 31-kilometer long pilot maglev line has produced huge losses as high as several hundred million yuan per year since it started operations. Shanghai once attempted to extend the existing maglev line in 2007, but the project stagnated at the initial research period because of objections from numerous residents who raised concerns over radiation and relocation issues.
By People's Daily Online
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