After the Spain-built Talgo, it’s time for the ultra-speed trains in the country. 500 km in an hour? Yes, that may become a reality in India soon. The Indian Railways is considering running trains on magnetic tracks.
Based on the Public-Private Partnership model (PPP), the MagLev project will be another feather in the railways’ cap.
As stated in a How Stuff Works report, “Maglev means that these trains will float over a guideway using the basic principles of magnets to replace the old steel wheel and track trains”
The tender to explore the future of MagLev trains in India was floated on August 4 by the Suresh Prabhu-led Ministry of Railways.
The four routes for MagLev trains that have been shortlisted include Nagpur to Mumbai, Bengaluru to Chennai, New Delhi to Chandigarh and Hyderabad to Chennai. Currently, Japan, Germany and China have these ultra-high-speed trains.
Wondering what “MagLev” stands for?
Well, it stands for Magnetic Levitation, a method which makes use of the magnetic field to move vehicles (trains in this case) without touching the ground. Basically, a MagLev train floats on a cushion (magnetic field) above the tracks.
How it works?
Magnets have the power to push and lift any vehicle along a guideway, and that too at a high speed (reducing friction). Interestingly, the track magnets are controlled by a computer that helps forward the magnetic force of the track so that the vehicle could be pulled forward.
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