Do high-speed trains levitate?

Maglev trains work on the principle of magnetic repulsion between the cars and the track. The word maglev is actually a combination of the words “magnetic” and “levitation.” The magnetic levitation, or floating of the train, is achieved through the use of an electrodynamic suspension system, or EDS.



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The magnetized coil running along the track, called a guideway, repels the large magnets on the train's undercarriage, allowing the train to levitate between 0.39 and 3.93 inches (1 to 10 centimeters) above the guideway [source: Boslaugh].

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Maglev trains do not have wheels or rails. As shown in Figure 3, they have guideways, and they float down these guideways without ever touching them.

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The Shanghai maglev train, also known as the Shanghai Transrapid, has a top speed of 430 kilometres per hour (270 mph). The line is the fastest operational high-speed maglev train, connecting Shanghai Pudong International Airport and the outskirts of central Pudong, Shanghai.

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Maintaining correct distance between train and guideway is not a concern (Lee, 2006). The drawbacks are that sufficient speed needs to be built up in order for the train to levitate at all. Additionally, this system is much more complex and costly to implement.

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Maglev trains work on the principle of magnetic repulsion between the cars and the track. The word maglev is actually a combination of the words “magnetic” and “levitation.” The magnetic levitation, or floating of the train, is achieved through the use of an electrodynamic suspension system, or EDS.

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1. High costs: The initial construction costs for maglev train infrastructure are significantly higher compared to traditional rail systems. This includes building guideways and installing magnetic levitation technology. The high costs have been a major deterrent for many countries and transit authorities.

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Magnetic levitation (maglev) or magnetic suspension is a method by which an object is suspended with no support other than magnetic fields. Magnetic force is used to counteract the effects of the gravitational force and any other forces.

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As noted above the Maglev trains are capable of traveling at speeds nearly twice as fast as the bullet trains. However, the use of such extreme speeds in commercial travel seems unlikely. Whereas Maglev trains travel at speeds of up to 400 or 600kph, bullet trains travel at a modest 320kph.

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The tilting action of the car body compensates for the force experienced by passengers inside, particularly when rounding curves at a high rate of speed. While meant to help reduce the effects of centrifugal force, car body tilting can still cause some passengers to experience nausea and discomfort.

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Maglev trains require very straight and level tracks to maintain high speeds. This necessitates extensive viaducts and tunneling, making construction costly.

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In addition, the tracks, signals, rail cars and software made in the U.S. are costlier than imports, largely because the government has not funded rail the way European and Asian countries have, experts say.

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The train used for the movie, the “Nippon Speed line” is fictional, although it bears some similarities to the real Shinkansen on the line between Tokyo and Kyoto.

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The Transrapid, a groundbreaking high-speed maglev train system developed in Germany, demonstrated the potential of magnetic levitation technology to revolutionize transportation.

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Even with regard to earthquakes, maglev trains are considered to be very secure rapid transit systems.

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The Chuo Shinkansen is the culmination of Japanese maglev development since the 1970s, a government-funded project initiated by Japan Airlines and the former Japanese National Railways (JNR).

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