1934
- Twelve years after Hermann Kemper discovered a method for train levitation, he is awarded the patent (Transrapid International USA Inc).
1962
- Development of linear motors began (Railway Technical Research Institute).
1971
- MesserschmittBölkow-Blohm demonstrated an electromagnetic suspension train on a test track (Transrapid International USA Inc).
- Development on the Transrapid 02 began (Transrapid International USA Inc).
1972
- A consortium of German companies started researching electrodynamic suspension (Transrapid International USA Inc).
- Development on the Transrapid 03 began (Transrapid International USA Inc).
- The Japanese LSM200 succeeded in leviating using LSM (Railway Technical Research Institute).
- The Japanese ML100 succeeded in leviating using LIM (Railway Technical Research Institute).
1973
- Development on the Transrapid 04 began (Transrapid International USA Inc).
1975
- The German HMB 1 train, which uses longstator maglev technolog was demonstrated (Transrapid International USA Inc).
- The Japanese ML100A which uses a linear static motor and superconductors was demonstrated (Railway Technical Research Institute).
1976
- The EET 02 train, which uses electrodynamic suspension was demonstrated (Transrapid International USA Inc).
- The HMB 2 train, which uses longstator technology was demonstrated (Transrapid International USA Inc).
1977
- Research of electrodynamic suspension was halted in favor of electromagnetic suspension (Transrapid International USA Inc).
- Japan's Miyazaki facility began operations (Railway Technical Research Institute).
- A Japanese single car train reached 517 km/h (Railway Technical Research Institute).
1979
- The Transrapid 05 train, which uses longstator technology was demonstrated (Transrapid International USA Inc).
1980
- Construction on Germany's Emsland testing facility began (Transrapid International USA Inc).
- Development on the Transrapid 06 train began (Transrapid International USA Inc).
1982
- A Japanese human controlled two-car train was demonstrated (Railway Technical Research Institute).
- Development on the Transrapid 06 train began (Transrapid International USA Inc).
1984
- The Transrapid 06 train is tested at the Emsland facility (Transrapid International USA Inc).
1985
- The Transrapid 06 reached 355 km/h (Transrapid International USA Inc).
1986
- A Japanese three-car train reached 352.4 km/h (Railway Technical Research Institute).
1987
- The Transrapid 06 reached 392 km/h (Transrapid International USA Inc).
- A Japanese automated two-car train reached 405.3 km/h (Railway Technical Research Institute).
1988
- The Transrapid 06 reached 412.6 km/h (Transrapid International USA Inc).
1989
- The Transrapid 07 reached 436 km/h (Transrapid International USA Inc).
1991
- Germany started considering the construction of maglev routes (Transrapid International USA Inc).
- There was an accident with the MLU002 (Railway Technical Research Institute).
1992
- A maglev route between Berlin and Hamburg was considered (Transrapid International USA Inc).
1993
- the Transrapid 07 train reached 450 km/h after having traveled 1664 km (Transrapid International USA Inc).
1995
- The Emsland facility started offering public rides (Transrapid International USA Inc).
1999
- The Transrapid 08 started operating at the Emsland facility (Transrapid International USA Inc).
- A Japanese five-car train reached 550 km/h (Railway Technical Research Institute).
- China started investigating the use of Transrapid trains (Transrapid International USA Inc).
2000
- The Berlin-Hamburg route was cancelled (Transrapid International USA Inc).
2001
- A contract between Shanghai and Transrapid was reached (Transrapid International USA Inc).
- Construction started on the Shanghai line (Transrapid International USA Inc)
2002
- The Shanghai line had its maiden voyage (Transrapid International USA Inc).
2003
- The Shanghai train reached 471 km/h (Transrapid International USA Inc).
2004
- The Shanghai train began regular commercial service (Transrapid International USA Inc).
2008
- Protests erupted in Shanghai over expansion plans (Chan, Royston, Taylor, Sophie, 2008).