Wouldn’t it be nice to have a magnetic levitating train that could get you from New York to Washington, DC in just an hour? Who wants to sit in hours of traffic anyway?
Japan began developing a magnetic levitating train (maglev for short) in the 1970s. In December 2003, it was finally at its peak when it achieved the world record speed for rail vehicles.
Japan's magnetic levitating train.
The advanced railway system, constructed by the Central Japan Railway System and Railway Technical Research Institute in Japan, uses an electrodynamic suspension system and superconductor magnets in the trains’ bogies.
Last weekend, representatives from the U.S., including former New York governor George Pataki, hopped a ride on Japan’s maglev with Japanese officials to discuss how to bring this railway system to America.
The system would branch between New York and Washington, DC and achieve speeds double that of Amtek Acela (150 mph), America’s fastest train. The train could even make a trip from Baltimore, MD to Washington, DC in just 15 minutes.
How does a magnetic levitating train work?
Japan’s maglev prompts levitation when it reaches speeds of 90 mph. At that point, the wheels come right off of the tracks and hover approximately four inches above the U-shaped guide way, moved along by superconducting magnets.
To get the ball rolling, Japan has even offered the U.S. a few billion dollars.
Japan's magnetic levitating train travels on U-shaped guide way.
According to the New York Times, “The commitment of Japanese taxpayer money is a sign of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s determination to do whatever it takes to prime the Japanese economy and to restore Japan’s fading reputation for technological prowess.”
Japan is in the process of extending its maglev railway line from Tokyo to Nagoya by 2027 and from Nagoya to Osaka by 2045.
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