MAGLEV APPROACHES PRACTICAL USE

Beginning in 1970, the Japanese National Railways undertook the development of a superconducting magnet system for use in a levitated, high-speed mass transit system. Today, the newly restructured Japan Railways Group is continuing the research. The experimental magnetically levitated train, or "maglev", is now in its third generation. The current vehicle, dubbed the MLU002, can attain a maximum speed of 420 km/h. Though research has progressed, the need for liquid helium in current superconducting magnet systems poses a major stumbling block. New ceramic magnets, however, may provide the answer. Eventually, the maglev train could provide high speed (up to 500 km/h) domestic and intercontinental transport through undersea tunnels. The Japan Railways Group foresees passenger and commercial applications.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: https://www.library.northwestern.edu/find-borrow-request/requests-interlibrary-loan/lending-institutions.html
• Authors:
  • Tanaka, H
• Publication Date: 1987-6

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 2-6
• Serial:
  • Japanese Railway Engineering
  • Volume: 27
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: Japan Railway Engineers' Association
  • ISSN: 0448-8938

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Ceramic materials; Magnetic levitation; Superconductivity; Technology
• Geographic Terms: Japan
• Subject Areas: Operations and Traffic Management; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00468377
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 30 1988 12:00AM