How high do bullet trains levitate?

The magnetized coil running along the track, called a guideway, repels the large magnets on the train's undercarriage, allowing the train to levitate between 0.39 and 3.93 inches (1 to 10 centimeters) above the guideway [source: Boslaugh].



While standard "bullet trains" (like the Japanese Shinkansen or the French TGV) run on traditional steel rails and do not levitate, Maglev (magnetic levitation) trains are a different technology entirely. The most famous example, the Shanghai Maglev in China, levitates approximately 10 millimeters (about 0.4 inches) above the guideway using electromagnetic suspension. In contrast, Japan's SCMaglev (Superconducting Maglev), which has set world speed records exceeding 600 km/h, uses a different system that requires the train to run on rubber wheels until it reaches about 150 km/h. Once it hits that speed, the magnetic forces become strong enough to lift the train approximately 100 millimeters (about 4 inches) into the air. This higher levitation height in the Japanese system is a safety feature designed to make the train more resilient to seismic activity and earthquakes. By floating in the air, these trains eliminate friction between the vehicle and the track, allowing for incredibly high speeds and a much quieter, smoother ride compared to traditional "bullet" trains that remain in physical contact with the rails. As of 2026, these systems represent the cutting edge of land-based transport, effectively "flying" just inches above the ground.

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Maglev trains do not have wheels or rails. As shown in Figure 3, they have guideways, and they float down these guideways without ever touching them.

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And also because it can travel up higher ascending grades (up to 10 percent), compared to conventional trains (up to 4 percent or less), maglev trains can also reduce the need to create new tunnels or to level the landscape to build its tracks.

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Bullet Trains vs Maglev Trains Though both are insanely fast trains, the Maglev can be thought of as a step up from the bullet. While bullet trains travel at speeds of 320kph, Maglev trains are anticipated to travel at speeds well over 500kph. In tests, one Maglev train reached a record-breaking speed of 603kph.

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Maglev trains require very straight and level tracks to maintain high speeds. This necessitates extensive viaducts and tunneling, making construction costly.

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The magnetic field generated by the Superconducting Maglev has no impact on health, as it is controlled with various measures to keep it below the standards established in international guidelines (ICNIRP Guidelines). The standards are set at approx. 1/5 to 1/10 the level that could affect the human body.

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Despite over a century of research and development, there are only six operational maglev trains today — three in China, two in South Korea, and one in Japan.

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1. High costs: The initial construction costs for maglev train infrastructure are significantly higher compared to traditional rail systems. This includes building guideways and installing magnetic levitation technology. The high costs have been a major deterrent for many countries and transit authorities.

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The train used for the movie, the “Nippon Speed line” is fictional, although it bears some similarities to the real Shinkansen on the line between Tokyo and Kyoto.

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Even if the power goes out, levitation forces keeps the train in the air while it is traveling at high speed. The vehicle comes safely to a stop rather than suddenly falling onto the track.

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Compared to highspeed passenger rail, maglev passenger rail consumes roughly twice the power per passenger kilometer. For commercial freight I found an efficiency figure of 520 ton-miles per gallon (660 kg-km/MJ). Assuming 70kg for the average commuter passenger this gives us an efficiency of (116 kg-km/MJ) for maglev.

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SNCF, widely regarded as one of the best high-speed rail operators in the world, has had 4 profitable years and 5 loss-generating years since 2012. The Shanghai Metro Maglev has never been profitable. Clearly, there is an issue with passenger transport. No mode of transportation can consistently generate profits.

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Maglev trains do not create direct pollution emissions and are always quieter in comparison to traditional systems when operating at the same speeds.

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There are only three countries in the world that currently have operational Maglev Trains: China, Japan, and Korea. Maglev trains are much more efficient than traditional trains and hold the speed record for trains (603km/h).

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Present Maglev systems cost 30 million dollars or more per mile. Described is an advanced third generation Maglev system with technology improvements that will result in a cost of 10 million dollars per mile. Plotkin, D.; Kim, S. Lever, J.H.

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With high-speed rail, train travel is always faster than driving. In many cases, it's even faster than flying, once you factor in the whole air travel song-and-dance. And if you do need to catch a plane, trains make it easier to get to the airport.

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Aeroplane, easily. The fastest train in actual service is the Shanghai Maglev with a top speed of 430 km/h. Most other “bullet trains” only do 250 km/h. Jet airliners travel at over 800 km/h.

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