JR Maglev Prototype

[Manfred M]

I spent the afternoon at the Japan Railways (JR) Museum. One of the exhibits is the test prototype of the Magnetic Levitation / Linear Induction Motor train. JR designs and builds many of its own trains. There are plans to build a MagLev train that runs between Tokyo and Osaka by 2050. The unit here hit a top speed of 581 km/hr / 361 mph.

[John 2]

A very dolphinesk shape that you have captured beautifully Manfred. I have to say though that the thought of travelling at 360+ mph in anything so close to the ground, would worry me. I an A/C, there is - perhaps - time to recover from a problem but in a ground based vehicle.....?

[Manfred M]

A very dolphinesk shape that you have captured beautifully Manfred. I have to say though that the thought of travelling at 360+ mph in anything so close to the ground, would worry me. I an A/C, there is - perhaps - time to recover from a problem but in a ground based vehicle.....?

Japan Railway's Shinkansen (Bullet Trains) have an impeccable safety record; over 50 years of operation, over 10 billion passengers carried and NO fatalities due to collisions or derailments (there have been two derailments). This is quite an achievement when one considers that Japan is frequently hit by earthquakes and typhoons. Parts of the country have very significant snowfall and other winter weather issues. The only accidental fatality was due to train doors closing on a passenger (a single occurrence).

All other deaths involving Japanese high speed trains have been suicides.

So with this particular train operator, I would be more than willing to take a chance.

[John 2]

The problem is entirely with me Manfred.

[Shadowman]

Very nice.