If you feel the need for speed, Japan is the place to be. The region's bullet trains are among the fastest commuter rails in the world, but now the nation has one-upped itself in both speed and design. Central Japan Railway Co. has unveiled a prototype for a new "floating train" that uses magnetic levitation, allowing the trains to reach speeds of 310 mph — without ever touching the ground. A look at how the technology works:
How do the trains levitate?
The floating trains have no wheels, which reduces friction and helps them travel much faster. The maglev trains are instead propelled along a track by electromagnetic pull. The ride is quieter, and passengers get to their destinations faster. Makers claim the floating trains are much safer than traditional trains. For example, in the event of a power outage, the trains would slow down and "settle" on auxiliary wheels before braking to a stop. The manufacturers also say that maglev technology would cause much less pollution than the planes that currently connect the Shinagawa Station in Tokyo with Nagoya, Japan's third largest incorporated city — the route where the floating trains would first run.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
And how much shorter would that commute be?
Although Tokyo and Nagoya are already connected via bullet trains, when the new trains are implemented, the 90-minute ride would be cut to just 40 minutes. Each train will have up to 16 carriages, and will seat roughly 1,000 passengers.
And these trains are the first of their kind?
Not exactly. A maglev train currently operates in Shanghai, but its top speed is just 268 mph, whereas these new trains are expected to hit speeds of 300 mph and higher. But the Japanese will have to wait a while for shorter commutes. The floating trains aren't scheduled for use until 2027, and could cost $64 billion.
Sources: The Daily Mail, The Telegraph, VentureBeat
-
Peter Mandelson called Epstein his 'best pal' in birthday noteSpeed Read The UK's ambassador to Washington described the late convicted paedophile as an 'intelligent, sharp-witted man'
-
A Spinal Tap reunion, Thomas Pynchon by way of Paul Thomas Anderson and a harrowing Stephen King adaptation in September moviesthe week recommends This month's new releases include 'Spinal Tap II,' 'One Battle After Another' and 'The Long Walk'
-
'Vampire energy' could be causing your electric bill to riseUnder the Radar Wasted energy could account for up to 10% of home use
