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FWIW, Germany did build a maglev that runs up to 500 km/h, the "Transrapid" [1]. Development was started in 1969, and a test route was built in 1987. However, i
by FabHK 5y ago
FWIW, Germany did build a maglev that runs up to 500 km/h, the "Transrapid" [1]. Development was started in 1969, and a test route was built in 1987. However, it was only ever deployed in production once, in 2002 - guess where? In Shanghai, connecting the Pudong airport to downtown (Correction: Not downtown, but to an interchange station connecting to a few metro lines.)
And hey presto, 20 years later China has a maglev. Honi soit qui mal y pense [2].
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transrapid https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transrapid
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honi_soit_qui_mal_y_pense https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honi_soit_qui_mal_y_pense
- larusso 5y agoYes I wanted to comment the same. And Germany is, as far as I know no longer looking into this anymore. Edit: I mean for the usage in Germany. It’s sadly a very political topic because lots of money went into this project.
- FabHK 5y agoYes, it is a pity. On the other hand, Germany is only around 1000 km north to south, and most distances can be done in a few hours with conventional high speed trains. And it doesn't look like there'll be export opportunities for a Transrapid anytime soon to, say, the US, or China...
- bluGill 5y agoIf you limit yourself to Germany you are correct. However the EU is a thing, and could be made a lot better if the countries started acting together more. Maglev from Italy to Finland with stops in Germany for example.
- giantrobot 5y agoThe Alps would have a word.
- publicola1990 5y agoAren't they building a tunnel through it, for conventional rail of course.
- nixass 5y agoAlps are full of tunnels, some being high speed for that matter
- bluGill 5y agoThe entire world is full of difficult terrine. Either you quit making excuses and learn to deal with it, or you make excuses and make flying easier. I visit Europe about once every 20 years, so I'm not really in position to say what Europe should do.
- LargoLasskhyfv 5y agoTunnel
- rob74 5y agoYup, and except for a sleeker design, the two trains look pretty similar to me...
- throwaway4good 5y agoSo why didn’t the Germans put these trains all over Germany?