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Germany To Build New Maglev Railway

Posted by kdawson on from the riding-on-a-cloud dept.

EWAdams writes "According to the BBC, the Bavarian state government has announced that it has signed an agreement with Deutsche Bahn, the German state railway system, and the Transrapid consortium, to provide a maglev railway between central Munich and its airport. The only other maglev in full operation at the moment is in Shanghai, again as a city-to-airport service. The cost of the system is estimated at $2.6 billion. No completion date has been announced."

18 of 297 comments (clear)

  1. 2.6 Billion? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Shouldn't they just invest that in Facebook?
    I hear it's going to be big!

    1. Re:2.6 Billion? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      it's actually EUR 30 to build that train - but i agree 2.6 billion dollars sounds way more impressive

  2. Monorail! by LiquidCoooled · · Score: 5, Funny

    They will be like North Haverbrook.

    --
    liqbase :: faster than paper
    1. Re:Monorail! by moderatorrater · · Score: 4, Funny

      I don't know, it sounds more like a shelbyville idea.

    2. Re:Monorail! by jez9999 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Is there a chance the track could bend?

      --
      == Jez ==
      Do you miss Firefox? Try Pale Moon.
    3. Re:Monorail! by kabz · · Score: 3, Funny

      Not a chance, my Hindu friend!!!

      --
      -- "It's not stalking if you're married!" My Wife.
    4. Re:Monorail! by sharkey · · Score: 3, Funny

      The ring came off my pudding can!

      --

      --
      "Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
  3. Monorail Cat. by Clanked · · Score: 4, Funny

    Will it be cat friendly?

    1. Re:Monorail Cat. by Tackhead · · Score: 3, Funny
      > Will it be cat friendly?

      Depends. A monorail cat could still use wheels, unless they upgraded your cat to maglev.

  4. I am strongly opposed to maglev techonology by BooleanLobster · · Score: 2, Funny

    I like to put pennies on the train tracks. Maglev trains take all the fun out of it!

    --
    In hell, you will find a mountain of broken, feces-covered typewriters and a stack of copies of the First Folio.
    1. Re:I am strongly opposed to maglev techonology by jcr · · Score: 5, Funny

      Try a sack of iron filings instead.

      -jcr

      --
      The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
  5. Ripoff.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    At 2.6 Billion that is only about 2-weeks of Iraq war.

    Which would you rather have? A shiny new Maglev or 2-weeks of war. Those Europeans have a warped sense of priorities.

    1. Re:Ripoff.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Which would you rather have? A shiny new Maglev or 2-weeks of war.
      Dude... Maglev, not war!
  6. Re:Yes, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    It might actually run on thyme.

    (See also http://xkcd.com/282/)

  7. Re:Good for Bavaria by RealGrouchy · · Score: 3, Funny

    Those roads don't just pay for themselves. Yes they do.

    - General Motors
    --
    Hey pal, this isn't a pleasantforest, so don't waste my time with pleasantries!
  8. Re:geek drawback.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    On the other hand, the Gloria Gaynor 8-track will survive...

  9. Re:Waste of Money? by deanc · · Score: 3, Funny

    One has to wonder if it's really worth the money, or is it just a boondoggle? German tax rates are already very high, among the highest in Europe.

    Have you been to Germany? Traveled through the country and taken a few train trips? With those taxes comes some of the nicest, most efficiently-running, most well-maintained infrastructure in Europe. It's worth the money in the sense that, to Germans, it ensure that the country has an amenity that keeps their country running in a lifestyle to which they're accustomed.

    Now, contrast this with New York City-- the fact that there's no rail connection between the airports and downtown comes across as pretty ghetto and low-rent.

    It's a lot like the difference between renting and apartment and owning a house. Renters are understanding that the kitchens and bathrooms are going to be old and not well maintained, because the landlord isn't willing to invest in upgrades if it doesn't give him more rent. On the other hand, people who own their house are going to put money into their homes to upgrade their kitchens and buy nice furniture because they enjoy the lifestyle it provides.

    Germans expect to live in a country where they have the amenities they would expect as owners. Americans are content to have their government act as a slumlord.

  10. Re:OK, lets try pricing out a highway by Lars+T. · · Score: 4, Funny

    There, I just saved the German taxpayer $1 billion dollars. By building a six lane highway from a railroad station to an airport. You must be American.
    --

    Lars T.

    To the guy who modded me down from perfect to terrible Karma - Apple haters still suck