Japan's L-Zero Maglev Train Reaches 310 mph In Trials

coolnumbr12 writes with this excerpt from IBTimes: "Japan's magnetic-levitation train is still more than decade away from completion, but the L-Zero recently proved that it really is the world's fastest train. On a 15-mile stretch of test track, the L-Zero reached speeds of 310 miles per hour. After the successful trials, Central Japan Railway Co. is going ahead with a 5.1 trillion yen ($52 billion) plan to build a 177-mile maglev line between Tokyo and Nagoya. CJR says the trip will take just 40 minutes on the L-Zero." There are other fast trains in the world, but the L-Zero edges out the others on this list.

Comments

TFA from Wired

[nojayuk]

TFA is a cut-n-paste from a badly-written and poorly-researched Wired article some staffer wrote to fill in a blank space on the website last week.

The Japanese maglev trains (there are two parallel tracks) have been running consistently at 500km/h (310 mph in old money) for over a decade and more in testing. Its actual record speed is 580km/h (about 360mph). In addition the test track is 40km long, not 26km as stated in the article; it was extended a few years back. Etc., etc.

Re:TFA from Wired

[Zyrill]

I'm sorry to have to say that, but that is a very ignorant and claptrap post. Maglev trains by design cannot be derailed. Even the non-superconducting Transrapid by Siemens (Germany) that commutes between Shanghai Airport and Downtown cannot leave his tracks instead of catastrophic failure of the whole track. That's because the tracks are shaped like this c-× so the magnets push the "c"-shaped guides away from the "-"-shaped track in every direction. The worst that can happen is that the "c" hits the track in which case the train simply brakes because of friction. In the case of the L0, consider this picture: http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/51b73df36bb3f78825000002-2238-1678-400-/japan-maglev-train-may-2010.jpg Yes, the track is almost straight. No, there are no sharp curves as in Spain, else it couldn't go that fast. For a more informed article with some tech specs, check here: http://www.dailytech.com/Japanese+Maglev+Train+Begins+Full+Speed+Testing+at+310+mph/article33281.htm Please don't ask questions just for the sake of asking something. A very academic thing to do, but trust me, everybody hates the frustrated postdocs who do this.

Re:Earthquakes?

[Anonymous Coward]

same thing as they do right now with the bullet trains
the train comes to a screaming emergency slowdown and halt

Re:Earthquakes?

[Ichijo]

Remote seismic sensors can detect earthquakes (which move at a little over the speed of sound) and transmit a signal to the trains (at the speed of light) which then immediately brake to a stop before the seismic wave hits.

Re:A me too case?

[AmiMoJo]

Well, in Japan there is definitely demand for this service. A lot of people already travel that route and the trains are often full to capacity. They go every 15 minutes and can't be sent out any faster for safety reasons.

Japanese companies tend to take a long term view, so don't expect a full return in the first five years. Also they expect to be able to export the technology for additional profit. There will also be additional economic benefits for Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka as people are more easily able to move between them. From businesses wanting to send employees to another office or go for a meeting in another city to consumers who enjoy taking a shopping trip or a weekend visit to the Kansai cultural centre.

As for why they don't just expand the existing lines the main issue is noise. The current trains are limited to 320KPH but could easily do 360 or more, if it were not for noise problems. The maglev will be quieter and take a route that uses more tunnels and avoids populated areas so that it can maintain 510KPH for most of the journey.