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Maglev test line

Japan / Yamanashi / Tsuru /

The superconducting magnetically levitated (Maglev) vehicle, run by repulsive and attractive forces of superconducting magnets, has no wheels or contact with the track and can thus travel at more than 500 kph (311 mph). Research and development of the Maglev started in 1962, two years before the Tokaido Shinkansen Line was opened in 1964, and has been led by the national government. After the Japan National Railways was privatized and divided into six regional companies in 1987, the Railway Technical Research Institute took over the project. In 1977, running tests started at the 7-kilometer (4.3-mile) test track in Miyazaki Prefecture, and construction of the larger, 42.8-kilometer (26.6-mile) test line in Yamanashi was completed in 1996. Following many successful test runs, a manned test run at the Yamanashi Maglev Test Line eventually cracked the 500-kph barrier on November 28, 1997, and a top speed of 531 kph (330 mph) was reached on December 12. The final target, 550 kph (342 mph), was attained in an unmanned test run on December 24, 1997.
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Coordinates:   35°34'54"N   138°55'51"E

Comments

  • Paul65
    Photo from: http://enoden.livejournal.com/464221.html?style=mine#cutid1
This article was last modified 13 years ago