New mag-lev train developed

This could be important in the fight against inner city pollution

"The cost of every kilometer of the track stands at 50 million yuan (US$6 million), only one-sixth of the world average. The running cost of "Zhonghua No. 1" is even lower than that of ordinary trains in the country."


www.china.org.cn...

[edit on 24-10-2004 by Lucretius]

There nothing new about maglevs, they have been doing test on them for decades, but they have been advancing quit a bit.

China has the first operational one (they bought from germany), it goes 19 miles and gets there in 8 minutes, its top speed it 266 mph, the ride it supposedly very smooth.

I love maglevs, but i dont think they will we replacing our current train and tracks. There alot more expensive, and normal trains speed has almost caught up to the maglevs speed.

The Japanese have a gotten there test one up to 350 mph, but the only thing from stopping it to go faster is there test track size. Theoretically there is nothing holding them back from going alot faster, but of course the faster you go the more wind resistence you get, which is the loudest part of the train (nomore hearing wheels roll on a track).

Japan MagLev - testbed


China MagLev - First operational maglev - Shanghai to Airport


Nasa has been experimenting with maglevs to propel there spacecraft for the beginning phase of the flight, so it wouldn't have to carry as much fuel, then it would unhook from the maglev at 600mph and then switch to rockets.


[edit on 24-10-2004 by Murcielago]

I think it was the brits who sold the technology to japan originaly (once again selling ourselves short :@@

but the real advantage of this chinese mag-lev technology is it's very small price compared to the already established technolgies... less than a quarter per km

[edit on 24-10-2004 by Lucretius]

Now wouldn't it be great if you could build a Maglev between cities in underground tunnels that are bored and pre-formed for the technology by a subterrene? No climbing up and over hills, just straight on through to the other side underground.

Nevermind

[edit on 27-10-2004 by Murcielago]