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Transrapid (MagLev) Test Successful In China: 405

Posted by Hemos on from the were-you-sent-here-by-the-devil dept.

theBunkinator writes "Use your favorite translator (+ unit converter) to read about the first successful beyond 400km/h (~250MPH) test of the MagLev train in China. News Blurp in German at tagesschau.de. The offical Transrapid site is bilingual, with choice of German/English. Pictures & Video, too. Beats the Autobahn any day. Probably beats a plane in many situations as well."

5 of 315 comments (clear)

  1. May beat the airplane? by SmallFurryCreature · · Score: 5, Interesting
    From the german article not anytime soon. The line is running from the city to, TADA, the airport!

    If anything this thing will make airtravel therefore easier by getting people to and from the airport faster.

    I recently had to go to london from amsterdam and checked out the three different methods. Boat, train (via channel-tunnel) and plane. Plane beat the other by a few hours. Mostly because of the number of transfers(?) and the inevitable waiting time this entails, required in the other two.

    --

    MMO Quests are like orgasms:

    You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.

  2. Re:Does not beat the French TGV by Bender_ · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Does not beat the French TGV

    The point is: the TGV has once reached a maximum speed of more than 500km/h with a specially designed trainset on special rails, while 400km/h is the usual travelling speed for the transrapid. I see quite a difference there. The TGV does not come close to 400km/h, let alone 500km/h in everyday travel..

  3. Why not an air cushion? by Thag · · Score: 4, Interesting

    If your goal is just to reduce friction, why not simply float the train on an air cushion, like a hovercraft? It seems like it would eliminate a lot of the complexity.

    The air cushion could be fairly efficient compared to military hovercraft, since the ground clearance could be an inch or so, instead of feet. Your track could be prepoured concrete instead of electromagnets.

    I'm probably missing something.

    Jon Acheson

    --
    All opinions expressed herein are my own, and not those of my employers, who are appalled.
  4. Re:Magnets: by Ozan · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The train itself has batteries which have enough capacity to levitate it for about an hour. In case of a power-failure during travel the train would continue to float until it stops.

    There is no magnetic field in the cabin, credit cards, etc are safe.

  5. Re:Does not beat the French TGV by Pig+Hogger · · Score: 5, Interesting
    The point is: the TGV has once reached a maximum speed of more than 500km/h with a specially designed trainset on special rails, while 400km/h is the usual travelling speed for the transrapid. I see quite a difference there. The TGV does not come close to 400km/h, let alone 500km/h in everyday travel...
    Nitpick: the world-record was made by a souped-up perfectly normal beas^h^h^h^h TGV fitted with a bigger transformer, bigger wheels, a smaller gearing ratio, 7 less cars than normal, various aerodynamic optimizations and a stiffer-than-normal catenary.

    And TGVs everyday come 80 km/h close to 400 km/h on the newest high speed line, the LGV Médditérranée where the top commercial speed is 320 km/h (that's exactly 200 miles per hour). And they are routinely tested at 400 km/h, and most journalists invited for the ride don't bother showing-up.

    So a pityful maglev is laughable.