Is maglev rail Japan's 'Spruce Goose'?
Critics argue that the extremely costly project is inherently risky in a country due to experience a rapid decline in population, while airlines are increasing budget services, according to the report.
Maglev train photo by Yosemite via Wikimedia Commons
Maglev train photo by Yosemite via Wikimedia Commons
TSURU, Japan — The Central Japan Railway Co (JR Tokai) successfully completed another test run of its new ultra-high speed magnetic levitation (maglev) rail line on Monday, reaching a top speed of 500 km/hour, outstripping the fastest shinkansen train in operation, the Hayabusa, which tops out at 320 km/hour, The Diplomat reported.
While the new train rollout is proceeding smoothly and generating interest domestically, the long-term plan is extremely costly and full of engineering challenges. The line is envisioned to connect Tokyo and Osaka by 2045 at an estimated construction cost of 9 trillion yen ($82 billion). Critics argue that the project is inherently risky in a country due to experience a rapid decline in population, while airlines are increasing budget services, according to the report.
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