Shanghai Trans-rapidBy: Brandon Camino

What is the Shanghai Trans-rapid? The world’s first maglev

(magnetic levitation) train The fastest train on earth

Top Speed of 431 kmh (268 mph)

How it Works Coil’s magnet in

guideway repels magnets under train levitates to .39 inches

to 3.93 inches Electric power supplied

to coil creates polarity changes

Magnetic fields push train in back, pull from front

http://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/enginesequipment/maglev-train.htm

Why so fast? The maglev floats so no friction between wheels and

rail to slow it down

Characteristics Pudong international airport to Shanghai (20 miles) in

7.2 minutes 99.85% service accuracy rate Cost $1.2 billion to construct $6 to ride as a passenger

Speed Records of Regular and Maglev Trains

Name Place Type SpeedShanghai Maglev

Pudong airport

Commercial 431 km/hr

AVG (Alstom) France/Italy Commercial 360 km/hr

TVG (Alstom) France Commercial 320 km/hr

AVE Commercial 300 km/hr

Shinkansen Maglev

Spain Test-run 581 km/hr

TVG (Alstom) Japan Test-run 575 km/hr

ICE Germany Test-run 407 km/hr

Advantages Speed Little to no maintenance No possibility of a part wearing out Unaffected by weather No noise, only from air resistance <http://ninpope-physics.comuv.com/maglev/procon.php>

Advantages continued… Uses less land Reduces collisions and accidents Uses less energy No traffic Does not pollute

Disadvantages New infrastructure must be built Cost of heavy and strong enough magnets Does not yet connect to inner city

Why I’m Interested I’m going to China this winter I have never ridden a “bullet train” I want to see if you really do feel like you’re floating I want to study the economics of it and decide for myself if I

think it is a viable option for CA

Why You Should be Interested Once again, it is the fastest train in the world This was a big step in revolutionizing public transportation

systems You could be riding it in this country within the next couple of

decades

The Future Even faster maglevs are

already being built Can be as fast as a Boeing

777 Paris to Rome in 2 hours

These can/will be all over Replace airplanes as the

preferred way to travel

References Blodget, Henry. "Riding Shanghai's Maglev, the World's

Fastest Train." Slate Magazine.\ N.p., 21 Mar. 2005. Web.

<http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/go_east_young_man/2005/03/mines_faster_than_yours.html>.

References continued… Bonsor, Kevin. "How Maglev Trains Work." HowStuffWorks.

N.p., 6 Mar. 2011. Web.<http://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/

engines- equipment/maglev-train1.htm>. "Information." Maglev Trains & Technology. N.p., 2003. Web.

<http://www.maglev.net/information/>.

References continued… Landovskis, Alex, and Véronique Rondeau. "Maglev Trains:

Advantages & Disadvantages."Magnetic Levitation Trains. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://ninpope- physics.comuv.com/maglev/

procon.php>.