The TP-05 was the most advanced experimental magnetic levitation (maglev) train developed in the Soviet Union during the 1980s, representing the culmination of a broader Soviet initiative to modernize transportation with high-speed, environmentally friendly technology. The project began in 1979, paralleling similar efforts in West Germany, with the establishment of a dedicated maglev test facility in Ramenskoye, near Moscow. Early prototypes, designated TP-01 through TP-04, led to the creation of the TP-05 in 1986, which showcased the peak of Soviet maglev engineering.

The TP-05 featured an aluminum body, weighed 18 tons, and was designed to carry 18 passengers. Its most distinctive technical innovation was an electromagnetic suspension system: a chain of small magnets ran along the car, with sensors continuously measuring the gap—typically around 10 mm—between the train and the guideway. The system dynamically adjusted the current to each magnet, compensating for track irregularities and ensuring a smooth, stable ride. Propulsion was achieved via a linear asynchronous motor, enabling near-silent operation and promising high efficiency.

Initial tests reached speeds of up to 100 km/h, but the design aimed for much higher velocities, with plans for cruising speeds of 250 km/h and even ambitions for 400 km/h. The TP-05 was intended for a 3.2 km elevated line between Yerevan and Abovyan in Armenia, with the full 16 km route projected to take just four minutes at maximum speed. Construction began in 1986, but the project was halted by the devastating Spitak earthquake in 1988 and later by the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, leaving the overpass only partially built.

Despite its unrealized potential, the TP-05 prototype still exists in a workshop in Ramenskoye and remains a symbol of Soviet technological ambition. Its futuristic design, developed by Andrey Galenko, even featured in a 1987 Soviet science fiction film. The TP-05 stands as a testament to the USSR’s innovative spirit in transport engineering, and its legacy continues to inspire renewed interest in maglev technology in Russia today.