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Maglev Trains Going Nowhere In Quite A Hurry
from the over-300-mph dept
For years, the state of the art in train transportation was supposed to be the maglev train - and while there are plenty of examples of how such floating trains work, there isn't much in the way of commercial success. It's used in a few small places (and some others are apparently exploring the possibility), but it seems tough to justify in many cases. While it is still faster than any other train, it's much more expensive to build, and offers no other real benefits other than being fast, and looking cool.
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ha
i thought the simpsons settled this topic once & for all !! :-)
seriously, doesnt shanghai have a maglev ? does it work ? ...
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maglev
It is a superior technology but I understand that more than half the cost is in building the so called 'track'.
The track apart from consisting of lots of magnets is largely a huge structure of concrete and steel that should the need arise support the entire length and weight of the train. So in reality engineers who have developed this system have excelled themselves but Governments and corporations can't afford to foot the bill. So I think its back to the drawing boards for a more affordable geo-planetry system. I envisage this 'train' re-emerging some time later in new formats. Athough I am not an engineer but a creative thinker and I postulate that if engineers designed a smaller lighter version that could use a suspension system then the infrastucture costs could be dramatically reduced. Why not halve the width of the train ?
Alternatively why not consider a tube system then the line could be extruded across the landscape ?
Getting back to the presently designed track system though why not use it to launch aircraft from a ramp system, apparently even NASA is experimenting with this technology to launch into space. The technology itself ie maglev is an engine with no moving parts and no exhaust except for the furphy that it draws on existing power station tecnology which inthemselves are currently undergoing reinvention.
Anyway this technology so inspired me that I penned a little ode comemorating it :
Safety First
Planes fall out of the sky
Cars slide into fly
Trains skid off the track
Whereas Transrapid
Will always bring me back
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heller there
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