Maglev train systems use powerful electromagnets to float the trains over a guideway, instead of the old steel wheel and track system. A system called electromagnetic suspension suspends, guides, and propels the trains. A large number of magnets provide controlled tension for lift and propulsion along a track.

A maglev (magnetic levitation) train requires three fundamental components to operate: levitation, propulsion, and guidance, all achieved through powerful magnets. Unlike traditional trains that rely on friction between wheels and rails, maglevs use superconducting electromagnets or permanent magnets to hover roughly 1 to 10 cm above a specialized guideway. To move forward, the guideway's walls contain coils that create a shifting magnetic field, effectively pulling the train from the front and pushing it from the back—a system known as a linear induction motor. In 2026, modern systems also require massive amounts of electricity to energize these coils and, in some designs, liquid helium or nitrogen to cool the magnets to nearly absolute zero. Because they lack physical contact, they require significantly less maintenance than wheeled trains but need an entirely new, dedicated infrastructure, as they cannot run on standard railway tracks.