Japan is so eager to show off its technologically advanced means of transportation, it has offered the U.S. a promise of covering half the costs necessary to construct a “Super-Maglev” train system between Baltimore and Washington, DC.
At present, travel by train between the two cities (37 miles) takes about one hour to complete.
The new system would reduce that commute to 15 minutes.
Specifically, Tokyo stated in the country’s newspaper, Asahi , that it will provide loans estimated at $8 billion.
According to sources, the American federal government is excited by the prospects of taking Japan up on this offer, with local state authorities showing particular enthusiasm over the idea at having a new means of transportation between the neighboring cities.
“The national government has shown interest,” a source at the company said. “But a number of the states in the northeast corridor — such as Maryland — are particularly keen for faster rail links and more advanced technology.”
The Japanese government and Central Japan Railway Co. are equally as eager to break ground on this project — they’re hoping to use it as a way of showcasing what they believe to be the transportation technology of the future.
Should this project come to fruition, the goal down the road would be to add an additional 453 miles of track that extends the rail system up to Boston.
For those unfamiliar with the technology, Maglev trains have no wheels. Instead, they’re propelled along the track via electromagnetic pull. This method reduces friction between train and track which, in turn, not only provides a smoother, quieter ride, but a significantly faster means of travel, too.
At present, there are several Maglev trains set up around the world, but a good majority of them are limited to a speed of roughly 270 mph.
Japan’s “Super-Maglev” trains, meanwhile, which operate only on test tracks, have proven capable of achieving speeds over 310 mph.
Shinzo Abe, Japan’s Prime Minister, first floated the proposal by President Obama in February. “I want to propose that [the United States] introduce the Maglev train system to represent Japan-U.S. cooperation,” said Mr. Abe at the meeting.
Discussion has been on-going, with states in the northeast having taken particular interest in it.
This is the first time an actual route has been established.
Japan hopes to have a U.S. Maglev rail system set up within the next 10 years, and that it will come to encourage other states and countries around the world to invest in Japanese mass transit technology.
Story via telegraph.co.uk
Advertisement
