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[Editor’s Note: This article was originally published at AECnews.com, but the hosting technology at that website is unable to display photographs consistently, so we are publishing here also, adding photos. -- ed.]

An estimated 2,000 citizens of Xujiahui, China (near Shanghai) have taken to the streets this week in what one participant calls “silence and peaceful” protest of a planned rerouting of an extension to the world’s first Maglev (magnetic levitation) train. The group’s stated goal is to embarrass the German financiers of the project by drawing attention to what they believe are inherent environmental and social dangers.

Our source in Xujiahui explains, “As you may understand we may have no power to fight with the government here, but we may try on Germany side. They should understand that they act against the human rights of Chinese people.” The frustration that brings them to the streets, our source says, is rooted in their understanding of safe distances for Maglev placement. “In Germany, they put the safe line at 300 meters for a Maglev line, while in China they put only 22.5 meters as the safe line. … No real Chinese people want Maglev at our homes.”

In the initial protest on January 6, 2008 approximately 250 Xujiahui residents are confronted by authorities, who turned back the crowd without incident.

The protestors believe that the tight distances will expose residents to unhealthy magnetic radiation, as well as increase the possibility of a serious accident should the Maglev train somehow leave its track. Some residents in the public protests carry small posters of a skull with the slogan “Against Maglev.” The photos we have received show families and persons of all ages participating in the protests.

The initial planned path for the line also drew protest, so last week Shanghai authorities changed the original plan, shortening the line's total length by 3km, increasing underground routes, and avoiding some densely populated neighborhoods. But now Xujiahui residents, closer to the line under the change, are unhappy and are taking to the streets.

In a second protest on January 7, 2008, residents affected by the project head to the local shopping center. The posters say "Against Maglev."

In an evening protest on January 8, 2008, approximately 2000 Xujiahui residents march across the river bridge; the revised Maglev line will parallel the river through parts of Xujiahui.

Maglev technology was first developed in Germany in the mid 20^th Century; a line built from downtown Shanghai to the airport in 2003 was the first commercial project, built using joint German-Chinese financing. The Chinese government announced in 2007 that any additional construction of Maglev lines would use largely Chinese technology and investment, despite the initial involvement of German interests.

Transrapid, the German manufacturer and developer of the technology, describes Maglev as “the first fundamental innovation in the field of railway technology since the invention of the railway.” A guideway directs the passage of the train, while powerful magnets lift the train 10 mm. Other magnets provide propulsion and braking. In tests, the trains can run as fast as 500 kph. Transrapid uses a CAD/PLM combination of CATIA V5 and SAP/R3 for design and engineering.