International thrill seeker experience

After numerous weeks of meticulous planning and attention to detail, I am the latest Foviance consultant to begin a user experience expedition to Asia. First stop on my whistlestop tour is Shanghai.

Having been to Shanghai before, I was very much up for new experiences and so decided to make my way from Pudong airport by the famous Maglev train. The Maglev is a magnetic levitation train that can reach speeds of 431 km/h (268 mph) and takes 7 minutes and 20 seconds to complete a distance of 30 km – similar distance to the Heathrow Express which takes around 15 minutes. Although it is not always the most convenient form of transport for those staying in central Shanghai, (it involves taking a taxi from the station into the city centre) I wanted the thrill factor.

Just as I remembered my history when in the 1800s, the speed junkies of their day fainted through fear on Stephenson’s locomotive when it reached 12mph, I too expected to ‘feel the speed’. So I bought my ticket and got myself a nice seat facing forwards ( I get motion sickness going backwards) and waited for the experience to begin.

I watched the overhead screen give regular updates on the speed we were travelling. It went higher and higher until it peaked at 301 km/h and the train went on a tilt when going round bends.

Did I faint? Was I scared? Not a chance – I appreciate the speed we got to our destination but as the line was too expensive to build closer to the city, the 25 minute taxi ride from the train station to my hotel somehow took the edge off it.

I have found out since that the train travels at its maximum speed in peak periods only!

*Amanda Roach will continue to blog on her observations on international customer experience, please comment or ask any questions below.