[Willie Green]

Related thread: Should we build a maglev?

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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

[Fierce Allegiance]

How far is it from West LA to Ontario airport

[Robert357]

I sure hope that they take a "system approach" and include the needed power plant, electric power transmission lines and electric distribution substations to go along with the MagLev system, as usually it is impossible to extremely difficult to get permits to build such facilities in California.

While maglev is a neat idea, I have seen Blackouts in California because, various types of power facilities can't be built. Adding new electrical loads will only make things worse.

[So Cal Rocket]

[Simmy2.5]

Is a $5.5 billion (before the expected overbudget price increase) 200 mph train worth it go a whooping 55 miles?

A cheaper conventional HSR would be MUCH better then this boondoggle. Heck, even light rail would do the trick. All this supposing that even GOING to Ontario Airport with such a system is a smart idea in the first place.

Somehow, I believe this $500,000 could be better spent. But thats my fiscal conservative reasoning coming in.

[pogo101]

Los Angeles Approves $500,000 Study on Maglev Train Line

Yes. And in other news today:

Los Angeles Approves $0 To Bloody Do Anything To Improve Existing Roads And Infrastructure

[ErnBatavia]

Los Angeles and surrounding areas are too spread out for any sort of mass transit to be workable....ask 20 people in your office building where they live, and you'll get 15 to 18 separate compass readings.

It's too spread out, with bedroom communities on all sides and - most important - there is nothing close to a central employment area.

If carpooling won't work there (and it does not), some snazzy choo-choo train that goes from Point A to Point B isn't going to either.

[Smartass]

The City of Los Angeles is one of the most corrupt
municipal governments in the United States
Having some knowledge of the mind set of how
the City of Los Angeles operates ... The money
is already earmarked for ten consultants ...
That will kick back to dozens of higher officials
in the form of campaign contributions.

The City has already p***ed away Fifteen billion
U.S. tax payer dollars on a eight mile subway ...
in a high earthquake zone. The same money, could
have been spent, on a fabulous ground level public
transportation system.