Japan is no stranger to engineering marvels, particularly when it comes to travel.
A new “floating” train line has now taken it one step further, travelling 217 miles in just 40 minutes.
Japan’s new Maglev train project is a bold vision for the country set to revolutionise train travel thanks to this high-speed rail line.
The Maglev is still under construction between Tokyo and Nagoya but will eventually extend to Osaka.
Following completion of this Tokyo-Nagoya line, the train line will extend to stations in Nara, Mie and Osaka with its magnetic levitation (maglev) technology, eventually taking travel between Tokyo and Osaka to a meagre 67 minutes.
The Maglev line looks to connect Tokyo and Nagoya in only 40 minutes and is one of the most advanced and ambitious rail systems in the world.
The line spans roughly 177 miles, and 90% of the route runs underground.
The Maglev line, also known as Chuo Shinkansen, has been the product of Japanese maglev development since the 1970s.
This impressive rail line is a government-funded project initiated by Japan Airlines and the former Japanese National Railways (JNR).
Magnetic levitation is at the heart of this colossal project which uses magnets in order to suspend a train from the ground with these superconducting magnets which are cooled to extreme temperatures in order to increase their magnetic field power.
These trains are elevated above the train tracks which have a guideway with metallic loops which create an electric current when the train’s magnets pass by.
This method allows for less friction on the tracks which in turn cuts journey times to significantly less as magnetic levitation allows the train to travel at much higher speeds than traditional trains.
According to Youtube channel, The Impossible Build (TIB), construction of this Maglev has had a number of complications though.
Among these obstacles, the high cost and environmental implications are at the forefront of the train’s setbacks.
The maglev train project is said to increase regional transportation energy consumption by 39% which is the same amount of energy used to power 88,900 homes.
Other environmental concerns include lowered water levels, poor air quality and an increased noise, and vibration in the surrounding area.
The £64.4 billion (¥9 trillion) trainline may have its fair share of setbacks and concerns but there’s no denying that if successful it will completely revolutionise travel with magnetic levitation and travel becoming synonymous.
