Rendell urges U.S. aid for 2 maglev projects

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ^ | Thursday, May 08, 2003 | Karen MacPherson

[Willie Green]

WASHINGTON -- Gov. Ed Rendell said yesterday that the federal government should fund two magnetic levitation train projects, including one proposed for the Pittsburgh area.

Rendell, in Washington to testify on state transportation needs, told reporters that Congress "shouldn't have to choose between competing projects."

[Willie Green]

High-speed rail as an alternative mode of transportation in the U.S. is long overdue. We are reaching the point of diminishing returns as we expand our 4-lane interstates to 8 or (gasp!!!) 10 lanes. And even costly airport expansions make little sense when (prior to 9/11) the air corridors themselves are over-congested.

High-speed rail and Maglev offer the perfect alternative to augment & supplement our highway and air transportation infrastructure. For regional trips between 100 and 500 miles, it is faster than automobile and not that much slower than air. Yet offers the potential to alleviate both congested highways and air corridors!

In light of current economic conditions, construction of this vital transportation infrastructure should be accelerated.

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Magnetic levitation (Maglev) is an advanced technology in which magnetic forces lift, propel, and guide a vehicle over a guideway. Utilizing state-of-the-art electric power and control systems, this configuration eliminates contact between vehicle and guideway and permits cruising speeds of up to 300 mph, or almost two times the speed of conventional high-speed rail service. Because of its high speed, Maglev offers competitive trip-time savings to auto and aviation modes in the 40- to 600-mile travel markets–an ideal travel option for the 21st century.

Both the Pennsylvania and Baltimore-Washington plans utilize maglev technology developed by Transrapid International. The German design is based on a conventional non-superconductingelectromagnetic/attractive magnetic configuration, and has received extensive testing at a full-scale test track in Emsland, Germany. The latest design represents over 20 years of design evolution and 15 years' testing of full-scale Transrapid prototypes, including safety certification by the German government for passenger-carrying revenue service at speeds of 250 mph or higher.

Highlights of the Transrapid system are:

• High cruising speeds of 200 to 300 mph (320 kph to 480 kph)
  

• Fast acceleration and braking with outstanding passenger comfort
  

• Can climb 10% grades at full speed
  

• Safe operation on dedicated grade-separated track, or guideway
  

• Vehicle wraps around guideway to reduce risk of derailment
  

• Low electromagnetic field emission and interference potential
  

• Standard superelevation, or tilt, of 12 degrees (max. up to 16 degrees) to navigate curves
  

• Proven and tested automatic operations control system
  

• Minimal guideway maintenance with small footprint
  

• High system capacity
  

• Guideway energized sequentially for dynamic vehicle "block" control and reduced power demand
  

• Improved aerodynamic vehicle design for minimal turbulence
  

• Multiple levels of redundancy built in for safe operations at all speeds
  

• Final safety approval anticipated in Germany for commercial operations
  

• Prior evaluation and safety analysis by the US Department of
  Transportation accepted Transrapid for deployment in Orlando, Florida in 1992

The Transrapid is suitable for transporting goods as well. For high-speed cargo transport, special cargo sections can be combined with passenger sections or assembled to form dedicated cargo trains (payload up to 18 tons per section). As the propulsion system is in the guideway, neither the length of the vehicle nor the payload affect the acceleration power.

If you would like more information about Maglev, visit the Transrapid International website or Maglev of Pennsylvania or the Baltimore-Washington Maglev Project

What is High Speed Ground Transportation?

High-speed ground transportation (HSGT)-- a family of technologies ranging from upgraded existing railroads to magnetically levitated vehicles-- is a passenger transportation option that can best link cities lying about 100-500 miles apart. Common in Europe ( The European Railway Server) and Japan (Japan Railways),HSGT in the United States already exists in the Northeast Corridor (Amtrak) between New York and Washington, D.C. and will soon serve travelers between New York and Boston. 

HSGT is self-guided intercity passenger ground transportation that is time competitive with air and/or auto on a door-to-door basis for trips in the approximate range of 100 to 500 miles. This is market-based, not a speed based definition. It recognizes that the opportunities and requirements for HSGT differ markedly among different pairs of cities. High-speed ground transportation (HSGT) is a family of technologies ranging from upgraded steel-wheel-on-rail railroads to magnetically levitated vehicles.

The Federal Railroad Administration has designated a variety of high density transportation corridors within our nation for development of HSGT:

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For more information, please visit the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA’s) High Speed Ground Transportation Website

[Dead Corpse]

If it is that good an idea, then it should make moeny on its own right? Let a private company step up to bat and have acrack at it instead of sinking tax money into a black hole.

[ikka]

Based on my observations a pork project of this size will generate bribes of between $10 million and $25 million to the state officials involved, or to their politicial parties.

[Frankss]

I agree with # 2, let all those really smart people that thought this up invest their money,comply with Gov. regulations, deal with labor unions, buy right of ways through various juristictions, design and build the trains,design and build stations,advertise and sell tickets.

[Willie Green]

Let a private company step up to bat and have acrack at it

That is happening, in fact, on small scale projects: Volusia-built maglev train makes tracks to Virginia.

However, large magnitude projects of import to our national transportation infrastructure require involvement of the federal government. Always has, always will. This has been true since the founding of our nation: the first postal roads, canals, the transcontinental railroads, the system of locks and dams that make our inland rivers navigable, the old U.S. Highway System, airports and the air-traffic control system, the Interstate Highway system... ALL built with federal initiative.

[Willie Green]

I agree with # 2,

That's OK, you're still entitled to your free choice.
I'm sure you'll still be able to purchase horse-drawn carriages and buggy whips from the Amish on the libertarian fringe-kook "free" market.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[Dead Corpse]

However, large magnitude projects of import to our national transportation infrastructure require involvement of the federal government. Always has, always will.

Yes. The Rail Acts setting up the Railroad Barons as government backed monopolies worked out SOooooo well didn't it? So much so that Amtrak is a completely self sufficient and profitable company that our Nation could ill afford to be without. I mean, what would those 17 people who don't like to fly do for cross country transport?

Nice to know you are a big supporter of Unions and government graft. Willie "Pork Barrel" Green.

[Dead Corpse]

I'm sure you'll still be able to purchase horse-drawn carriages and buggy whips from the Amish on the libertarian fringe-kook "free" market.

No. Henry Ford came up with a cheaper way to make them thar' horse-less carriages. No government interference required. If it wasn't for continued meddling by bureacrats, we'd probably have those "flying cars" they were promising us in the 1950's.

[mewzilla]

No offense, but I have three words for your argument for federal involvement: the Big Dig.

[Willie Green]

Henry Ford didn't build or pave roads. Government did.

[KellyAdmirer]

The $3 billion, 45-mile Pittsburgh maglev project

For regional trips between 100 and 500 miles, it is faster than automobile and not that much slower than air.

Ok, class, the assignment for today is to discuss what these two separate statements imply for the potential success or failure of the proposed Pittsburgh maglev project in terms of customer use if it is funded and completed.

[q_an_a]

I think this is a great idea and when the congress reopens the super collider that was built here in Texas as a research project, then cancelled by conservatives including those in PA, then we should start on research such as this train. I think too many people keep getting the role of research confused. Trains are great and if high speed trains are the best form of transportation between the point you have on the map, we should ask Southwest Airlines to get in the train business, cause they fly where the tracks are proposed. AND THEY DO IT CHEAP!

[Dead Corpse]

Government did.

Check the Constitution. You do know what the Constitution is don't you? Road building is a government delegated power. They can do that. Sort of at least. If you REALLY want to expand the Art 1, Sec 8 clause of "To establish Post Offices and post Roads;" to include railroads and public highways. Kind of a massive stretch. Roads are a local phenomenon. They should have stayed that way as well.

Building, operating, and maintaining every car, bus, train, and airplane in the US is not. That is left up to private individuals. There isn't a rail project, or even highway expansion, that isn't rife with corruption, cost over-runs, kickbacks, and every other type of government mismanagement you can think of.

A massive maglev project? Not with my tax money you don't.

[mom-7]

If rendell is involved this cannot be good for the state of Pa. The Federal Government should send him packing.

[Willie Green]

Building, operating, and maintaining every car, bus, train, and airplane in the US is not. That is left up to private individuals

The truth is that this initiative is to be funded by a combination of federal, state and private investment. It is likely that actual operation and maintenance will also be privatized and largely financed from the passenger revenues obtained. That's why the proposed routes lie in our nation's most densely populated regions and travel corridors.

Please make use of the links I provided to become more informed on the issue.
I have no desire to "debate" with obstructionists who are entrenched in absurdly extreme positions.

[Willie Green]

If rendell is involved this cannot be good for the state of Pa. The Federal Government should send him packing.

I think it is shameful that the GOP has permitted Rendell to take the political high-ground on this worthwhile initiative. Dubya's interest in high-tech seems limited to exporting IT jobs to India and converting our SUVs into mini-hydrogen-fueled Hindenbergs. If he's not an outright technophobe or luddite, then he's simply more of a follower than a leader. China is already well ahead of us in the implementation of this 21st Century technology. It's truly an embarassing position for the GOP. IKE was the GOP president who initiated the construction of our Interstate Highway system, but Dubya's leadership is totally AWOL on the high-speed rail/maglev issue.

[Willie Green]

the assignment for today is to discuss what these two separate statements imply for the potential success or failure of the proposed Pittsburgh maglev project in terms of customer use if it is funded and completed.

The 45-mile Pittsburgh project is merely the first segment of a 300 mile route connecting Pittsburgh with Philadelphia and points in between. It is essentially a pilot project that is being used to prove the new technology in actual operation and under the widely variable weather conditions of all 4 seasons. The difficult, hilly terrain in the Pittsburgh region is also considered to be a desirable challenge for demonstrating Maglev's capabilities.

[Frankss]

Hey Willie- I think the mag-lev train is interesting, I just don't want to be forced into paying for it. Lyndon La Rouche is a big supporter of this type of train which puts me off a bit. The Japanese have "bullet" trains that run at 200 mph, and they run on rails (more or less conventional).

[Willie Green]

The Japanese have "bullet" trains that run at 200 mph, and they run on rails (more or less conventional).

I advocate high-speed rail "bullet" trains like the Japanese have as well. I think they'll be the appropriate technology to implement in many parts of our nation, depending on cost, climate, terrain, conversion of existing rail lines, etc. etc. But there are limitations to the technology as well which make Maglev more attractive in under certain circumstances.

From a passengers perspective, the main advantage to Maglev is speed. High-speed rail is pretty much at it's upper limit at 200 mph. Maglev promises speeds in excess of 300 mph. And while Maglev may be more costly to construct initially, it promises lower maintenance costs and greater reliablity because it doesn't rely on high-wear components like wheels, suspension, etc. etc.

Terrain and climate are a factor as well. Like traditional rail, high-speed rail is pretty much limited to gentle grades of 1~2%, and can be hampered by weather conditions such as drifting snow. OTOH, Maglev can negotiate very steep grades of up to 10%, and since it is built on an elevated guideway, extensive construction costs for grading/tunneling can be minimized in certain terrain. (It also requires a smaller "footprint" in more densely populated areas.) The elevated guideway also keeps it well above drifting snow, with any snow/ice trying to accumulate on the guideway itself tending to be blown off by the wind or passing trains. And if a couple inches should stick, Maglev passes right over it like it isn't even there. So it should provide more reliable transportation in inclement weather.

It's a juggling act depending on what region of the country you're talking about. There is no panacea "one-size-fits-all". Each region needs to evaluate its own set of circumstances to decide which technology best suits its needs.