The successful bidder will enjoy the naming right, for two years and be entitled to run advertisements on the seat covers, according to Song Xiaojun, deputy general manager of the Maglev train development company.

"It will be a golden opportunity for enterprises to publicize their image on this hi-tech fast vehicle and it will be a chance for us to make a return to our investors," Song said.

If successful, the remaining two trains to be purchased from Germany will follow the same path, according to Song.

Since its test run on December 31, the train composed of three cars has been opened to the public on weekends and holidays after negotiation with the German side which is contracted to complete the debugging of the operation system by the end of this September.

Up to this point, it has made 41 trips with curious passengers who want to experience speeds of 430 kilometres per hour on the ground. At 240 passengers per train and 200 yuan (US$24) per ticket, the train has so far earned the development company almost 1.97 million yuan (US$238,000).

Though the amount is far from the almost 10 billion yuan cost of the high-tech development, visitors' zest for ground-level flights has boosted Song's confidence about earning 2-to-3 million yuan (US$242,000-US$363,000) daily next year when the line is put into official operation.

Now the Maglev ticket has become a favourite gift in the city and the price has been raised to 1,000 yuan (US$121) per ticket by scalpers hanging around the Longyang Station.

Song said the tickets for this month had been sold out and the number of those wanting to book tickets over the seven-day Spring Festival exceeded the actual capacity of the train 10 times over.

Song also said the Pudong project would be the only commercial line in the country for at least five years and it was essential to tap its tourism potential.

China Daily news

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