How long before the UK adopts Maglev systems?

thewanted · 11 Mar 2009 at 08:29

Balddog said:
It only runs from the city to the airport though doesnt it? How much countryside could there be in 19 miles?

I usually take a taxi.

Yes, the airport is built away from the suburb where the Maglev station is situated and there's a bit of countryside inbetween.

Cosimo · 11 Mar 2009 at 08:32

Can anyone actually see something like this being built in this country in their lifetime?

thesubstitute · 11 Mar 2009 at 08:52

This stimulates my interest to play Transport Tycoon again

Cosimo · 11 Mar 2009 at 08:59

thesubstitute said:
This stimulates my interest to play Transport Tycoon again

You’ll get to build and run one of these railways.

Duke · 11 Mar 2009 at 09:15

RandomTom · 11 Mar 2009 at 09:30

EffBee said:
Umm, see my post above - but you do know we invented the damn thing, dont you?

I do indeed. Shame we can't bring it home. Even on shorter stretch journies e.g. Glasgow-Edinburgh or Liverpool-Manc-Leeds for example.

Hellsmk2 said:
I've been on the Maglev in Shaghai and it is damn fast indeed. It only runs between the airport and the outskirt of the city, so it's actually rather pointless at the moment.

I wouldn't say pointless, you could have a massive park and ride scheme for commuters, as an example, but I see it'd be hard to implement.

simulatorman said:
Can anyone actually see something like this being built in this country in their lifetime?

Really hope so. I really hope in the next 20 years.

A man can dream...

starfighter · 11 Mar 2009 at 11:31

Germany were considering building one but now arn't. Japan plan to have one by 2025, if thy can and their current systm is better than ours hen we need to also.

Sounds like a good project to create jobs / boost economy.

drizzy · 11 Mar 2009 at 11:44

Seems overkill when the only train service in the UK that runs at even ~ 300km/h is the eurostar? Wouldn't it be better to spend that £30m/mile upgrading existing tracks?

Energize · 11 Mar 2009 at 11:55

drizzy said:
Seems overkill when the only train service in the UK that runs at even ~ 300km/h is the eurostar?

What? That's exactly why we need a new system, because trains in the uk are so slow.

Sankari · 11 Mar 2009 at 12:01

Yep, the French trains have to slow down when they enter the UK because British infrastructure is substandard.

It's high time for an upgrade.

HEADRAT · 11 Mar 2009 at 12:14

Don't be silly that would smack of a proper transport policy for the UK.

The Government is laughing all the way to the bank, they get billions from Road Tax which they don't spend on the roads and then bring in "congestion charging" when the inadequate road system fills up. They can provide no real alternative to the car so they can carrying on raping the motorist.

HEADRAT

platypus · 11 Mar 2009 at 12:19

Too big an expense.

HEADRAT · 11 Mar 2009 at 12:21

Not sure the Goverment can use that one now, they seem to find 100 of billions when they need too

drizzy · 11 Mar 2009 at 12:30

Energize said:
What? That's exactly why we need a new system, because trains in the uk are so slow.

I'm no train engineer but the point was that it's likely that upgrading the existing infrastructure to support 189mph/300km/h trains like the TGV/Eurostar would make more financial sense and would cover more of the train network than Maglev while still delivering significant upgrades. Plus the UK is pretty small anyway.

knowlesy · 11 Mar 2009 at 12:32

Evangelion said:
We will never succumb to the evil seduction of communist technology!

feeddagoat · 11 Mar 2009 at 12:34

Seems like this would be a better investment rather than wasting money with bailouts. Even if they closed current networks to build it that would be a good thing.....least they wouldnt leak any more money lol

A.N.Other · 11 Mar 2009 at 12:39

I'm sure it would benefit the UK to have these, apart from the obvious bias of the youtube videos. Unfortunately, I just can't see the government getting their act together to make it happen, though.