Transportation has been a key in human development: It started with the early men transporting themselves on foot to use of animals like horses, donkeys and Carmels. In recent years, cars , airplanes, sophisticated ships etc have been our means of transportation. In this technological development of the means of transportation, convenience, speed and safety have the watch words. In this article, I will be discussing Maglev (flying train)

Maglev (derived from magnetic levitation) is a transport method that use magnetic levitation to move vehicles without touching the ground. With maglev, a vehicle travels along a guideway using magnets to create both lift and propulsion, thereby reducing friction by a great extent and allowing very high speeds. On moving, it has no contact with its rail, it is suspended , hence I call it the flying train or vehicle.

The fastest commercial train currently in operation has a top speed of 430 km/h. It is the Shanghai Maglev Train. With this type of speed, one could be living in Calabar and be working in Lagos.

Comparison with conventional trains

Maglev transport is non-contact and electric powered. It relies less or not at all on the wheels, bearings and axles common to wheeled rail systems.

Speed:Maglev allows higher top speeds than conventional rail.

Maintenance: Maglev trains currently in operation have demonstrated the need for minimal guideway maintenance. Vehicle maintenance is also minimal (based on hours of operation, rather than on speed or distance traveled). Traditional rail is subject to mechanical wear and tear that increases exponentially with speed, also increasing maintenance.

Weather: Maglev trains are little affected by snow, ice, severe cold, rain or high winds. However, they have not operated in the wide range of conditions that traditional friction-based rail systems have operated. Maglev vehicles accelerate and decelerate faster than mechanical systems regardless of the slickness of the guideway or the slope of the grade because they are non-contact systems.

Track: Maglev trains are not compatible with conventional track, and therefore require custom infrastructure for their entire route.

Efficiency: Conventional rail is probably more efficient at lower speeds. But due to the lack of physical contact between the track and the vehicle, maglev trains experience norolling resistance, leaving onlyair resistance and electromagnetic drag, potentially improving power efficiency.

Weight loading: High speed rail requires more support and construction for its concentrated wheel loading. Maglev cars are lighter and distribute weight more evenly.

Noise: Because the major source of noise of a maglev train comes from displaced air rather than from wheels touching rails, maglev trains produce less noise than a conventional train at equivalent speeds.

Braking: Braking and overhead wire wear have caused problems. Maglev would eliminate these issues.
Magnet reliability:At higher temperatures magnets may fail. New alloys and manufacturing techniques have addressed this issue.

Control systems: No signalling systems are needed for high-speed rail, because such systems are computer controlled. Human operators cannot react fast enough to manage high-speed trains. High speed systems require dedicated rights of way and are usually elevated. Two maglev system microwave towers are in constant contact with trains. There is no need for train whistles or horns, either.

Terrain: Maglevs are able to ascend higher grades, offering more routing flexibility and reduced tunneling.


Source: http://www.naijarex.com/2016/05/10/maglev-amazing-facts-about-the-flying-vehicle/