Transrapid (German: [t?ans??a'pi?t]) is a German-developed high-speed monorail train using magnetic levitation. Planning for the Transrapid system started in 1969 with a test facility for the system in Emsland, Germany completed in 1987.
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There are only three countries in the world that currently have operational Maglev Trains: China, Japan, and Korea. Maglev trains are much more efficient than traditional trains and hold the speed record for trains (603km/h).
Cost concerns over innovative railThe primary challenge facing maglev trains has always been cost. While all large-scale transportation systems are expensive, maglev requires a dedicated infrastructure including substations and power supplies and cannot be integrated directly into an existing transportation system.
Due to the huge cost of running a maglev over very long distances, the hovering trains have been ruled out for the planned HS2 line connecting Manchester with London and Birmingham by 2033.
One is located in Japan, two in South Korea, and three in China. In Aichi, Japan, near Nagoya, a system built for the 2005 World's Fair, the Linimo, is still in operation. It is about 9 km (5.6 miles) long, with nine station stops over that distance, and reaches speeds of about 100 km (62 miles) per hour.
Japan: L0 Series Maglev (374 mph)Although not yet in regular service, this Japanese train, which is currently being developed and tested by the Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central), holds the land speed record for rail vehicles, clocking in at 374 mph.
Disadvantages of Maglev TrainsComplications resulting in accidents will usually lead to high human fatalities. Maglev trains are much more expensive to construct than conventional trains because of the high number of superconducting electromagnets and permanent magnets required, which are usually very costly.
Cost: Maglev train technology is significantly more expensive than conventional high-speed rail. HS2 is already a highly expensive project, and adopting Maglev technology would further increase the cost.
Maglev trains are “driven” by the powered guideway. Any two trains traveling the same route cannot catch up and crash into one another because they're all being powered to move at the same speed. Similarly, traditional train derailments that occur because of cornering too quickly can't happen with Maglev.
The design of the guideway -- whether the German “T” shape for the wrap-around vehicle or the Japanese “U” shape with the vehicle enclosed -- ensures that the trains are safe from derailment. Today, maglev trains are generally considered to be among the most safe and comfortable rapid transit systems in the world.
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.
The Glacier Express is the world's slowest train, taking more than eight hours to travel between Zermatt and St. Moritz in Switzerland at an average of 18mph. Along the way, it passes over nearly 300 bridges, travels through 91 tunnels and takes in endless stunning Alpine views.
Bullet Trains vs Maglev TrainsThough both are insanely fast trains, the Maglev can be thought of as a step up from the bullet. While bullet trains travel at speeds of 320kph, Maglev trains are anticipated to travel at speeds well over 500kph. In tests, one Maglev train reached a record-breaking speed of 603kph.
Using strong electromagnets, Transrapid's maglev technology allowed the train to levitate above the tracks, reducing friction and enabling the train to travel at very high speeds—eventually reaching speeds in excess of 300 mph (500 kph) in some cases.
The Eurostar travels through the Channel Tunnel at a speed of 100 miles per hour (160kph) although when the train is outside the tunnel it reaches speed of 186 miles per hour (300 kph).