China's new 'air train' runs using an overhead magnetic track, never touching it as it glides through the air 30 feet above the ground see photos

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• A new train in China is said to be the world's first suspended maglev train system that uses permanent magnets.
• In other words, it can operate without power, gliding through the air without ever making contact with the track above it — and there's no rail underneath it.

A new train just unveiled in China doesn't quite operate how you'd expect.

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It's called the Red Rail.

Hu Chenhuan/Xinhua via Getty Images

It's said to be the world's first suspended magnetic levitation, or "maglev," train system that uses permanent magnets.

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Traditional maglev train systems use electromagnets, which require electric current to get things moving.

Hu Chenhuan/Xinhua via Getty Images

The Red Rail is different.

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It uses permanent magnets that contain rare earth metals, of which China is the world's biggest supplier.

Photo by Hu Chenhuan/Xinhua via Getty Images

This allows it to run without electricity.

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This also means it has the potential to save energy and be more environmentally friendly than many other modes of transportation.

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The train never has physical contact with the rail as it moves.

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It's located in Xingguo county, Jiangxi province, which is in southern China.

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Construction of the train wrapped up on August 9, according to state-run media.

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Source: Xinhua

The train still has to go through some test runs, one of which happened after construction concluded last week.

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The Red Rail glides through the air suspended about 10 meters, or 33 feet, above the ground.

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Source: South China Morning Post

It has two cars that can carry 88 passengers total.

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Source: South China Morning Post

In this experimental phase, the track is 800 meters long, or roughly 2,620 feet.

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Source: South China Morning Post

The train can reach speeds of up to 80 km per hour, or about 50 miles per hour.

Photo by Hu Chenhuan/Xinhua via Getty Images

Source: South China Morning Post

After test runs are finished, the plan is for the track to be extended to 7.5 km, or almost 4.7 miles.

Photo by Zhang Chang/China News Service via Getty Images

Source: South China Morning Post

At that point, the train will also be able to travel as fast as 120 km per hour, or nearly 75 miles an hour.

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Source: South China Morning Post