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Q: Is there anything to be gained by taking the Maglev on a journey between Hongqiao and Pudong?
I would like to know if there is any practical sense taking the subway from Hongqiao Railway Station then changing at Longyang Road to the Maglev rather than taking Line 2 the whole distance? Does the saving in time justify the extra expense?
9 years 45 weeks ago in Transport & Travel - China
Face, of course ...
but not, you will not save 30 minutse of your time or so, only just experience, if you go for first time...
No, definitely doesn't justify the extra 50rmb. And the time savings is questionable: how long you have to wait on the next available maglev train vs the alternative of how long you need to wait at the guanglan transfer point later on on line 2 (the experience of this transfer is something in itself, two full subway trains' worth of people trying to transfer to the opposite train 
).
If you've got the money to blow however, you should do it at least once. Especially if it's during the daytime....watching everything pass by at ~430 km/h is a neat experience.
No point really. Unless you want to say you rode the Maglev. Line 2 didn't originally go all the way to Pudong Airport, but now it does, the Maglev it pretty useless.
The reason I took it was for the special experience. If memory serves correctly at the time it was both the fastest train (in-service land vehicle?) and the only one of it's kind in the world! Yes, I did it for bragging rights, but I am also into all things hi-tech, futuristic and this ass-bad device filled both criteria to the extreme!
What the others said... although, avoiding the mad rush and crush would be advantageous!!
Time saving and mianzi gain. In the same logic is there anything gained from booking a business class ticket in a plane departing from China when knowing that local carriers want to fill the plane anyway and always sell more economic tickets than there are seats, thus simply standing at the end of the queue with your economic ticket will grant you a free upgrade to business class? Mianzi gain of course, and not lining up, except that nothing.
Thanks for the answers - I was more bothered by the practicalities it rather than the adventure or the face that I would gain. It seems that from a practical sense, there are no real advantages re: changing and taking the Maglev.
I usually just take a taxi. Mostly because I didn't freaking know about the Maglev at the time... now I just avoid Shanghai altogether.
yes, it is much more comfortable. You can see the city as you go by. It doesn't stop and start every 2 minutes to pick up every local in town. Don't have to worry about everyone on the metro kicking, batting or what ever your bag. There are many reasons. If you are willing to pay $8 for comfort, than yes. If you want to ride it for the ride factor yes. If you prefer to spend your 40 rmb you will save on something else, than that is cool too. Comfort always cost a little extra. It is like everything else, what i it worth to you?
