Japanese train breaks world speed record @ 374mph

[HCMH]

I have had the pleasure of experiencing the Maglev train in Shanghai a few times and it really is a remarkable thing - it accelerates to 400km/h rapidly and you really feel the speed, unlike other high speed trains I have been on. It has the potential to transform travel times between cities, awesome bit of kit!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_Maglev_Train

[Otispunkmeyer]

Scuffers said:

sebhaque said:

I do find the concept of Maglev very interesting, I seem to recall reading about Maglevs operating in vacuum tunnels for silly speed, the realism of this I'm still not sure about yet though.

That man Elon Musk again! (Space X, Tesla cars, etc)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperloop

I'd heard about such an idea long before Musk put his oar in. This stuff isn't a new idea.

[-crookedtail-]

HCMH said:

I have had the pleasure of experiencing the Maglev train in Shanghai a few times and it really is a remarkable thing - it accelerates to 400km/h rapidly and you really feel the speed, unlike other high speed trains I have been on. It has the potential to transform travel times between cities, awesome bit of kit!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_Maglev_Train

That drivers cabin though, looks like somebodies loft conversion.

[Scuffers]

Otispunkmeyer said:

I'd heard about such an idea long before Musk put his oar in. This stuff isn't a new idea.

Your right of course, however, he has a track record of actual getting on with stuff.

If you think about, very little is actually new these days.

[HCMH]

-crookedtail- said:

HCMH said:

I have had the pleasure of experiencing the Maglev train in Shanghai a few times and it really is a remarkable thing - it accelerates to 400km/h rapidly and you really feel the speed, unlike other high speed trains I have been on. It has the potential to transform travel times between cities, awesome bit of kit!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_Maglev_Train

That drivers cabin though, looks like somebodies loft conversion.

That has to be a piss take....couple of Velux windows, dodgy skirting plus portable fan!

[qube_TA]

Given that this is all fancy and computer controlled, and that it could stop in a heartbeat due to low friction.

What if cyber-baddies hacked the controls and remotely yanked on the brakes when it was at full speed, you could squash everyone in the train without it hitting anything.

There's a nice B-Movie script there

[FredClogs]

qube_TA said:

Given that this is all fancy and computer controlled, and that it could stop in a heartbeat due to low friction.

What if cyber-baddies hacked the controls and remotely yanked on the brakes when it was at full speed, you could squash everyone in the train without it hitting anything.

There's a nice B-Movie script there

Well it doesn't work like that but since when did that stop Hollywood?

[J4CKO]

Shouldn't HS2 be a Maglev system ?

Is it too expensive ?

[FredClogs]

J4CKO said:

Shouldn't HS2 be a Maglev system ?

Is it too expensive ?

Ha ha ha ha...

Yeah good one.

(I think the reality is that trains this fast require extremely straight/flat track and all new track will need to be built for maglev, due to nimbyism and the general short sightedness of UK politicians and the general public HS2 is going to use sections and stations on the existing 150 year old network)

[PhillipM]

qube_TA said:

Given that this is all fancy and computer controlled, and that it could stop in a heartbeat due to low friction.

What if cyber-baddies hacked the controls and remotely yanked on the brakes when it was at full speed, you could squash everyone in the train without it hitting anything.

There's a nice B-Movie script there

I think that's gonna have to be a z-list movie.

[herewego]

I think there would be a lot more HS2 supporters if it were to be maglev.

[Gargamel]

herewego said:

I think there would be a lot more HS2 supporters if it were to be maglev.

I guess it would be attractive to some, but polarising to others.

[McWigglebum4th]

Gargamel said:

I guess it would be attractive to some, but polarising to others.

But they would always be poles apart over such an electrifying issue

[Scuffers]

McWigglebum4th said:

But they would always be poles apart over such an electrifying issue

OUCH!

[R8Steve]

Digga said:

FredClogs said:

castex said:

Digga said:

I'm envisaging a scenario similar to when your thumb slips off a jet-ski throttle at full tilt.

Go on then, what happens?

Well you sink, but in the case of a maglev train you have several hundred tons (I presume) of metal hitting the metal rail at 340mph... There must be some sort of safety wheels in operation but still the and possible deceleration and heat from the friction seems frightening to me (obviously I'm no expert, people must have done some sums)

If only it were that simple; the jet-ski stops (seemingly) dead and you hurtle over the bars and hit the water which, if you're shifting, feels like concrete. At which point you don't really know which way is up but, if you had the sense to put on a lifejacket, you'll survive.

What you say about the train weight, friction and retardation are good points though; I do wonder how these effects could possibly be countered.

I'm not sure what kind of jet skis you are all using but if you let go the throttle at full tilt it won't hurtle you over the bars and it definitely won't sink!

[tvrforever]

These are not maglev systems - but magnetically propelled systems and they are much more likely to have a real world impact in majority of locations :-

Snow, Ice & seriously low temperature transit (much more appropriate for Europe) :-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVyWmDCTfRs

Using magnetic propulsion for pipeline transport & logistics :-
http://www.molesolutions.co.uk/how-it-works/

And if you want to understand the basics of maglev, here's Eric explaining simply how travelling wave magnetics work :-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI_HFnNTfyU

[durbster]

Otispunkmeyer said:

I'd heard about such an idea long before Musk put his oar in. This stuff isn't a new idea.

I don't think he ever said he invented it.

I'm a big fan of Musk. A billionaire who's actually using his money to change the world. What he's doing with Tesla is fascinating and I think they have the potential to pull the rug out from under the established car makers.

I'd love to see the Hyperloop pay off. Trains are st.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

KrazyIvan said:

Imagine it here, London to Manchester in under an hour.

Nooooo!

Manchester to London in under an hour, brilliant. But going the other way, I'm in no hurry to get there.

[MarshPhantom]

This thing makes HS2 look like the DLR - back to the drawing board.

[anonymous-user]

tvrforever said:

These are not maglev systems - but magnetically propelled systems and they are much more likely to have a real world impact in majority of locations :-

Snow, Ice & seriously low temperature transit (much more appropriate for Europe) :-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVyWmDCTfRs

Using magnetic propulsion for pipeline transport & logistics :-
http://www.molesolutions.co.uk/how-it-works/

And if you want to understand the basics of maglev, here's Eric explaining simply how travelling wave magnetics work :-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI_HFnNTfyU

Thanks for posting those, really interesting.