Is maglev expensive to build?

The proposed Chuo Shinkansen MLX maglev in Japan is estimated to cost approximately US$82 billion to build, with a route blasting long tunnels through mountains. About 80% of the line is expected to run through tunnels - which explains the high investment costs in this case.



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The construction of this stretch would take about 6 to 7 years, so the Maglev train could be a reality around 2030 at its earliest. Contrary to many regular railway lines, 70 percent of the route will be underground. Building it around 60 or 70 metres deep, the vibrations are deep enough to be unnoticable above ground.

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Cost concerns over innovative rail The 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.

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Compared to highspeed passenger rail, maglev passenger rail consumes roughly twice the power per passenger kilometer. For commercial freight I found an efficiency figure of 520 ton-miles per gallon (660 kg-km/MJ). Assuming 70kg for the average commuter passenger this gives us an efficiency of (116 kg-km/MJ) for maglev.

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Cost concerns over innovative rail The 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.

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An exciting future possibility for maglev trains is known as evacuated tube transport. This involves the trains traveling in enclosed vacuum tubes with very little air resistance. Implementing this involves permanently removing air along the travel route; the passengers ride in air-locked train cars.

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However, building infrastructure in the U.S., especially subways, is very expensive. This CNBC report shows that building subways in the U.S. is more expensive than in most countries because of high labor costs, overbuilt tracks and stations, and onerous regulations.

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Total 12.15 Comparing the data in Tables 2 & 3 shows that for the at- grade construction, maglev would cost at least 3.8 $M/ mi more than the TGV Atlantic. The cost difference may be significantly higher when actual costs are substituted for the maglev tchnology costs.

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The maglev concept has been tested and proven feasible in both high- and low- speed constructions, but maglev systems have not yet been widely built.

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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.

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Even if the power goes out, levitation forces keeps the train in the air while it is traveling at high speed. The vehicle comes safely to a stop rather than suddenly falling onto the track.

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Maglev trains do not create direct pollution emissions and are always quieter in comparison to traditional systems when operating at the same speeds.

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Maglev trains have some advantages over traditional trains. As the train does not touch the ground along the guide road, it does not have any moving parts, so there is no part to wear. For this reason, the maintenance cost is low. Since there is no contact with the guide track, there is no friction.

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Maglev trains are always quieter in comparison to traditional systems when operating at the same speeds [8].

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