The Shanghai Airport Maglev was built by a German company trying to prove the concept for longer distance maglev construction. It was a failure; it was way too expensive and not meaningfully faster than conventional high speed rail.

Its also a money pit. They keep it running as a matter of nationalistic pride, not because its economical. Most folks in the area take the ordinary metro to the airport, not the maglev.

That use case is perfect for Maglev. Essentially replace Caltrain.

^ This guy has an imagination! This is what I like to see on HN. positive about technology. Thank you.

It doesn’t really go to the city, but some far out suburb in pudong. Faster to take a cab than subway + maglev transfer. Unless you specifically want to ride the maglev.