Concept for mag-lev installed on top of existing railways

[phantom power]

There was a blurb on these people in pop-sci. One big component of the pitch is the savings in right-of-way, since it sits on top of existing rail infrastructure.

Until now, maglev systems have been “maglev trains” – a nineteenth-century transportation mode with twentieth-century technology replacing the steel wheels, while still relying on mechanical track switching technology (i.e., circuit switching). These maglev systems promised greater top speeds, but that promise was limited by the tradeoffs endemic to train service: more stops meant slower average speeds, albeit for a larger potential passenger base; fewer stops meant higher speeds, but for a smaller potential customer base.

Moreover, the incremental speed improvements that existing maglev promises require completely new guideways constructed on new rights-of-way at tremendous cost – over $100 million per dual-guideway mile (i.e., one track in each direction). That has been their downfall: maglev trains are simply too expensive and too limited in their practical value to be cost-effective.

There is a better way: a packet-switching transportation network that uses permanent levitation maglev and linear motors for instant track switching and direct routing of smaller carriages on an ultra-high capacity network for passengers, freight, and vehicles.

http://www.fastransitinc.com/system.html

[YOY]

1. So expensive. so expensive. SO EXPENSIVE.

But it would be sooooo nice too.

[tinrobot]

2. Maglev is really cool technology, but not very practical.

It's not that much faster than regular rail, and not cheaper to operate.

Hard to justify all that extra cost when you could install many miles of standard rail for every one mile of maglev. I'd much rather have more regular trains than a few very expensive ones.