Driver's cabin of Shanghai maglev train that travels at 268mph looks absolutely nothing like what you'd expect

The Shanghai maglev train is one of the fastest in the world, capable of gliding along its 19-mile route at a blistering 268 mph.

This is why most people expect the driver’s cabin of such a futuristic machine to look straight out of a sci-fi movie, complete with glowing screens, sleek panels, and high-tech controls.

But a viral Reddit post has revealed something quite the opposite.

The truth is, it looks a lot more like your uncle’s living room, than the cockpit of a record-breaking train.

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The standing fan gives off bachelor pad vibes

The photo, which was shared on Reddit, showed the cab of the Shanghai maglev train in all its humble glory.

There aren’t any futuristic interfaces to be found, just a few monitors that wouldn’t be out of place in any normal office.

A few control panels can be seen, alongside a standing fan and a power board lying casually on the floor.

Many commenters couldn’t believe what they were seeing.

“Kind of looks like my first apartment,” one joked.

Another said that the scene resembled a ‘train enthusiast’s homemade simulator setup’.

Others were amused that there wasn’t even air-conditioning, speculating that all the money must have gone to designing and building the train.

The Shanghai maglev train isn’t even cruising at its top speed

It’s a bizarre contrast, given how revolutionary the maglev is.

Opened in 2004, the Shanghai Maglev (short for magnetic levitation) was the first commercial high-speed maglev line in the world.

Instead of using wheels, the train literally floats on a cushion of magnetic fields, eliminating friction.

This allows maglev trains to be even faster than planes, at least under controlled conditions.

The Shanghai maglev train specifically can reach 186 mph in 2 minutes and 15 seconds, with the historical maximum operational speed of 268 mph being reached after 4 minutes.

After 2021, the cruising speed of the train was actually reduced to a mere 186 mph, reportedly to reduce the need for maintenance.

This is still much faster than most trains around the world, especially those that place a greater emphasis on heritage.

Yet despite all that cutting-edge engineering, the driver’s cabin looks like it was furnished from a local hardware store.

Perhaps that’s the point; there isn’t actually much for the driver to do.

The Shanghai maglev train is almost entirely automated, with computer systems handling the precision control needed for levitation, acceleration, and braking.

Think of the driver as someone that’s taking a supervisory role, like the safety monitors in Tesla Robotaxis.

Perhaps the most shocking thing about maglev trains in China is that the country isn’t quite satisfied with them.

China is actively developing new maglev technology, and once it’s ready, its new 370 mph trains will make journeys as fast as flying, but for a much cheaper price.

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