China rolls out low-cost maglev trains

[marshall]

China rolls out low-cost maglev trains|Society|chinadaily.com.cn

CHANGSHA - A locomotive producer in central China's Hunan province on Friday rolled out a low-cost magnetically levitated (maglev) train that is more environmental-friendly than conventional ones.

A newly developed maglev train is seen at a factory of the Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Co. Ltd. of China South Locomotive and Rolling Stock Corporation in Zhuzhou, Central China's Hunan province, Jan 20, 2012. The three-carriage train is designed to run at a maximum speed of 100 km per hour and carry 600 passengers. It is more environmental-friendly than conventional trains. [Photo/Xinhua]

The three-carriage train is designed to run at a maximum speed of 100 km per hour and carry 600 passengers, said Xu Zongxiang, general manager of Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Co. Ltd. of China South Locomotive and Rolling Stock Corporation (CSR). Xu said the new train was much quieter than conventional ones. While a conventional train moves forward by using friction between its wheels and the railway tracks, the maglev train replaces wheels by electromagnets and levitates on the guideway. According to Xu, his company's has minimized the risk of the new maglev train derailing or overturning. "It's ideal for mass transportation, as it is quiet and environmental-friendly. Its manufacturing cost is about 75 percent of a conventional light-rail train," said Xu. The maglev train has a minimum turning radius of 50 meters and can easily run in residential communities or on hilly slopes. "It's an ideal public transport option for Chinese cities and major tourist destinations," said Xu.

Railway transport specialist Liu Youmei, also an academician with Chinese Academy of Engineering, said the new train is green, economical and safe. "It can be used for public transport in populous areas and at scenic spots with fragile environments." Liu said China is one of a few countries that have applied maglev technology.

Beijing is building a maglev route, the Daitai line (S1), which starts at its IT center in Haidian district, passes through Shijingshan district, and ends in Mentougou district on its western outskirts. The line will be operational next year.

 

[fly2012]

Hmmm, I read this one earlier in Chinese and I remember it is "low speed" instead of "lost cost". I could be wrong.

 

[marshall]

China rolls out low-cost maglev trains|Society|chinadaily.com.cn

Immensely important news concerning China's urban mass transit that will allow faster than subway transit for a cheaper cost in cities that would otherwise not have a subway system for cost, foundation, urban density reasons. These can make tight turns with as little as 25m. For this reason, they can be constructed in established high density urban areas where it is dangerous to construct underground subways which need a minimum of 300m to make turns. It helps that this maglev is cheaper, faster and can climb hills better than subways. This will help mass transit within downtown areas and older cities as well as allow construction of mass transit in hilly cities and cities with unstable foundations unsuitable for underground subway lines.

There are 2 such low-speed 100km/h maglev urban rail systems in the middle of or beginning of construction. Beijing line started in Feb/11 for completion at end of 2013 and Shenzhen line given the go-ahead with construction starting this year or next.

 

[Roybot]

Hmmm, I read this one earlier in Chinese and I remember it is "low speed" instead of "lost cost". I could be wrong.

Its both. Top speed of 100 Km/hr, as compared to 430 Km/hr of the Siemens Maglev in Shanghai.

Pretty good alternative for light rail and trams though.

 

[fly2012]

Its both. Top speed of 100 Km/hr, as compared to 430 Km/hr of the Siemens Maglev in Shanghai.

Pretty good alternative for light rail and trams though.

It will definitely be cheaper than metro. I am not sure about the cost compared to light rail/trams. It is quieter for sure. Also I feel 100km/hr a bit too fast in cities that it barely has time to accelerate.

 

[marshall]

It will definitely be cheaper than metro. I am not sure about the cost compared to light rail/trams. It is quieter for sure. Also I feel 100km/hr a bit too fast in cities that it barely has time to accelerate.

It's said to be approximately 75% the cost of traditional subways while being faster and able to be built in tight urban environments and hilly terrain. Main reason why it's cheaper despite being more complicated techwise, versus traditional subways, is that these don't need to be built underground while retaining their ability to maintain speed. They are being built on elevated causeways similar to how the high speed railways are with their elevated track. Maintenance costs will also be lower because there are no moving parts.

The only drawback I can see is if there will eventually be definite proof found that extended exposure to strong magnetic fields cause biological damage at the cellular level as some researchers claim they do. This is one of the reasons why the Shanghai maglev was delayed indefinitely because people living along the proposed route between Shanghai and Hangzhou were protesting over the potential health problems related to the magnetic field. The main difference between this low-speed maglev and the Shanghai one is that the magnetic field is two orders of magnitude weaker.

 

[ao333]

100 km/s maglev is...

 

[marshall]

It will definitely be cheaper than metro. I am not sure about the cost compared to light rail/trams. It is quieter for sure. Also I feel 100km/hr a bit too fast in cities that it barely has time to accelerate.

This maglev supposedly can accelerate faster than any subway without the sort of jerky acceleration/deceleration you get with traditional subways. I'm pretty sure the 100km/h claim is only for stations far apart which is where I think this maglev would excel. Underground subways are a waste of money if they are built underground when connecting distant city suburbs. However, this is not the case with a maglev. All they would need to do is raise the speed say 50km/h to 150km/h for these sorts of more distant stations and then you would have rapid suburban transit twice as fast as subway. It's not like China doesn't already have the technology to increase a mere 50km/h.

Now that you mention it, that's actually what China is doing with the Beijing maglev. They are building stations from Haidian, Beijing to Mentougou, Beijing where there will be some stations more than 4 miles apart. I would not be surprised if China is planning on building these low-speed maglevs alongside existing subways but for faster transit to the suburbs. This would complete the public transit network to include all cities, suburbs, intercity, inter-provincial and international transport with fast public access using...

- traditional subways (shorter stops <=> cities)
- low-speed maglev (short and long stops <=> cities, suburban, intercity)
- high-speed rail (long stops <=> intercity, inter-provincial, international)

...China would realize immense competitive advantages with this because it would allow the creation of truly monumental urban conglomerations that would retain a relative comparative advantage versus other large urban conglomerations of the same size. Combine this with the larger size of China's future urban conglomerations and you have a situation where China could tap the combined Human resources of it's larger population in a more efficient manner than it's smaller less efficient competitors.

If you think about the implications, it is scary how competitive China can become if this sort of vision is implemented throughout China. Imagine the Yangtze Delta cities connected this way where anybody within 100 miles of each other can transit within 90 minutes.

 

[Speeder 2]

So after Japanese went radioactive, Chinese want to be magnetic? I know there's a competition going on in the region, but go ease chaps...

Studies on the related impact on health must be taken as paramount not cost nor speed, else you'll get assured urban suicide at mass level albeit with slower speed than Japan - "die after you?"