| Benefits | Harmful Effects | Economic Impacts | Technology | Controversy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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What is over 500km/h.
This makes these trains a highly effective form of transportation, allowing passengers to travel across great distances in a shorter amount of time.
This is the speed a maglev train is capable of reaching.
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What are electrical fires.
There have been two incidents in the past with maglev trains and electrical fires, one in Japan and one in China.
This can happen if there are electrical problems.
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What is expensive.
The Shanghai maglev line cost $1.2 billion to build. The Japanese Linimo line cost $100 million/km. These are just some examples of how much money has to be put into maglev trains.
The cost of building maglev trains is.
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What is magnetic levitation and propulsion.
There are two main type of maglev: electromagnetic suspension, and electrodynamic suspension.
Maglev uses this technology for motion.
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What are high levels of radiation and noise pollution.
Maglevs emit a significant amount of electromagnetic radiation, but the long term effects on communities are still unknown. maglevs are significantly quieter than traditional trains, but still make so
Communities where maglevs are proposed to be built have concern such as these.
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What is significantly less.
Because Maglev trains hover above the tracks and are powered by magnetic fields, most of the noise generated is from air being displaced. This is considerably quieter than conventional trains. These trains are powered by electr
The amount of noise and air pollution from maglev trains compared to conventional trains.
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What is react quickly to objects in the way.
There has been an incident in Germany where a maglev train crashed into a maintenance vehicle, killing 23 people.
High speeds do not allow trains to do this.
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What is compatibility with conventional train tracks.
Because maglevs are not compatible with existing train tracks and equipment, new ones have to be built for maglev trains. This adds to the already high price tag associated with building maglev trains.
This necessitates new rails to be built.
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What are large electromagnets attached to the underside of the train. These magnets are pointed at a steel track to levitate the train. The electromagnets have a changing electric current run through them to change the strength of the magnetic field gener
Electromagnetic suspension (EMS) works by this method.
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What is high costs.
Long term benefits of maglevs have yet to be proven, so the initial high cost may be a risky investment.
This being high makes groups hesitant to invest in maglev trains.
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What is through any weather.
Maglev trains have not been stopped or even slowed by weather that affect other means of transportation. Such as: heavy rain, heavy snow, powerful winds, or severe cold.
The weather conditions a maglev train can operate under.
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What is electromagnetic radiation.
The effects of prolonged exposure to radiation from maglevs are still unknown. But people fear it may be bad for health, causing cancer.
Maglev trains can potentially be harmful by emitting this.
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What is low.
Maglev trains are less expensive the maintain and run than traditional trains.
The maintenance costs of maglev trains are this.
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What are permanent magnets or superconducting magnets generating a magnetic field from the train. Combined with an induced magnetic field from the track, this creates repulsive and attractive forces that move the train along.
Electrodynamic suspension (EDS) works by the method.
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What is planning.
Although many countries have expressed interest and made plans for a maglev line, no construction has actually started.
Construction of most proposed maglevs is in this stage.
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What is less than conventional trains.
The maglev train uses significantly less energy compared to traditional high speed intercity Express trains at 200-300km/h, but at over 400km/h, the energy usage is only slightly higher.
The maglev train's energy consumption.
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What is power failures.
Maglev trains have no alternative source of movement if there are prolonged power outages.
Trains can not run if this happens.
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What is currently low.
Because maglev trains are still relatively new and combined with the small number of operational trains there currently are, the industry has yet to generate significant revenue. The revenue generated is enough to cover maintenance
The revenue generated by maglev trains.
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What is constant monitoring and correcting of the train's levitation.
This is due to the unstable nature of electromagnetic attraction.
Electromagnetic suspension cons are.
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What is short distanced and not connecting favorable locations.
Maglevs like the Shanghai-Pudong line in China only cover a relatively short distance and does not connect many locations.
Existing maglev lines are this.
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What is minimal.
The maglev train does not actually touch the track, meaning that the tracks do not get worn down through friction like in conventional trains. This results in almost no maintenance being required for the rails.
Maintenance requirements of maglev rails.
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What is heavy equipment and rare metals.
The heavy equipment required to build rails limit where construction can take place. The rare metals needed raises the price of constructing maglev trains.
Maglev trains require this to be built.
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What is profitable.
If more lines are built in more convenient locations, more people will ride them, generating significant revenue.
The revenue potential of maglev trains.
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What is magnetic shielding being required.
Because of the constant strong magnetic field of the train, passengers with devices such as pace makers, or with storage devices such as credit cards and hard drives can not ride the train without proper shieldin
Electrodynamic suspension cons are.
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What is the Lathen train collision in Germany, 2006.
This was the first fatal accident involving maglev trains, most of the passengers on board died when the train crashed in to a maintenance vehicle and partly derailed.
Controversy over safety stems from this.
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