Trains are a very common public transport in the vast majority of countries nowadays. They have been carrying people for ages, starting at the begging of the 19th century. There was no game-changers in the train industry since the introduction of electric engines. Apart from one idea; Maglev trains. Maglev is an abbreviation of two words, magnetic and levitating. Yes, such constructions are actually hovering above the ground. It is due to the magnetic force between the special tracks and trains. The concept sounds very futuristic but it is actually relatively old. The first patents, as well as prototypes, became real in the 1960s in the USA and Japan. How come that in 50-60 years of research Maglev trains are hardly anywhere?
The benefits
Let me begin with the positive side of Maglev trains which has tempted people to start developing them. One of the most annoying things about prevailing trains is the noise. Wheels constantly hitting the tracks. Magnetically levitated trains solve this problem entirely as they are above the ground. There is almost neither sounds nor vibrations with this technology. On top of that, it reduces the number of mechanical failures and bad weather-related issues. What is more? The incredible speed that it can reach. The speed record done by this train is 603 km/h. It is mind-blowing. Unfortunately, there is also another side to the coin.
The downsides
Everything has both pros and cons, Maglev trains are not any different. The crucial part of every single thing is the cost. In this case, it is extremely high. It is caused by the fact that in order to make these trains operate one needs a whole new infrastructure. It requires a new set of “tracks” power supplies and substations. Due to the innovative technology, nothing from the previous system can be used. The second greatest issue holding such projects back is energy consumption. “The maglev constitutes not only an extraordinarily costly but also an abnormally energy-wasting project, consuming in operation between four and five times as much power as the Tokaido Shinkansen,” (Hidekazu Aoki, 2018)
Conclusion
The idea for Maglev trains sounds very futuristic and tempting at first. Lack of noise and vibrations and very high speeds, on top of that it levitates. However, while exploiting the topic deeper we come across huge push away factors. It is extremely expensive as it requires not only different kinds of trains but also a whole new infrastructure. On top of that, it consumes massive amounts of energy. That is why it has failed so far and we probably need to wait quite some time for it to become more affordable.
Bibliography:
https://www.railway-technology.com/features/will-maglev-ever-become-mainstream/ last access 25.11.2021 1:00 AM
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maglev#First_maglev_patent last access 25.11.2021 1:00 AM