Experts from German company Transrapid International (TRI), the technical provider of the Shanghai maglev train, have joined their Chinese counterparts in investigations into the cause of last Friday's maglev fire accident, a Chinese company official said on Wednesday.

Maintenance will be carried out on the magnetic levitation (maglev) train once the cause is determined, said Xia Guozhong, director of the Shanghai Maglev Transportation Development Company (SMTDC), the operator of the maglev.

The German-made maglev in China's business hub of Shanghai caught fire at around 3 PM last Friday, but none was hurt.

Smoke was found in the second carriage when the train heading for the Pudong International Airport just left Longyang Road Station.Fire-fighters hurried to the spot and passengers were soon evacuated.

The maglev train hit by fire is staying at an emergency stop about one km away from the Longyang Road Station, awaiting checks by fire-fighting authorities and experts.

As the fire did not cause any serious damage, the operation of the other maglev trains has been smooth, Xia said.

The maglev went into operation on December 31, 2002, when former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji took the maiden ride. The maglev line is 30 kilometers long.

(Xinhua News Agency August 17, 2006)