Sophia Landreth

Dr. Sweigart

Engineering Concepts

24 Oct 2017

History and Current Events of

Maglev Trains

Since the 1800s, the human race has relied on trains as a mode of ground transportation.

The first public railroad chartered in the united states, the mohawk and hudson railroad emerged
in 1826. It was had a steam locomotive. Over the years, rails were laid all over the united states,

and trains grew drastically in popularity. Trains were used for hauling cargo and transporting

people. Private companies utilized trains, and commercial companies utilized trains. The industry

was exploding. A need for innovation emerged when the high-speed rail system began needing

repair. The wheel bearings were being worn out due to friction.

Years of endless repairs with no apparent solution, perhaps, drove men to beg the

question: how can we create a frictionless train? If a train has no wheels, it has no bearings to

wear out. This became the model outline for many engineers trying to recreate the train. Some

attempted using water pressure or air pressure to levitate the train and reduce friction. This

method did not take off.

It wasn't until a man named Alfred Zehden, who realized that the opposing forces of

magnetism could be used to levitate a train off of its track in order to eliminate friction in wheels.

It was 1902, when Zehden officially invented the first Maglev train in germany. This train which

used magnetic levitation began to be known as a maglev train. The basic concept of a maglev

train incorporates a well known, basic principle of magnets: opposite poles attract and similar

poles repel. Maglev trains combine these principles and electromagnets to both levitate and

propel the trains. By using magnetic levitation, the key source of friction of an average train, the

wheels, is eliminated, which allows the train to travel much faster. The lack of friction in the

wheels also improves the lifespan of these trains, as wheel bearings were no longer an issue, as

they were in past locomotives.

The first commercial maglev trains did not arise until years after their invention. The

first commercial maglev train opened in 1984 in Great Britain. It was developed to be a

shuttle between the airport and nearest train station. The maglev train did not travel very far
though, only running roughly 600 meters between the airport and the train station. The next

maglev train to turn up was the train incorporated in the 1986 World's Fair in Vancouver. This

train was involved in the fairgrounds. Another Maglev train arose in germany in 1991. The train

was designed to improve the public transportation flaws caused by the Berlin wall. This train was

taken down shortly after though, in 1992, when the Berlin wall fell. A man named Robert

Goddard brought these trains to America in 1984.

Now, maglev trains provide a reliable, and quick form of ground transportation in places

all over the world. Due to the shape of the train and the maglev technology, these trains are able

to reach very high speeds because of the reduced friction and decreased air resistance.

One of the most notable maglev trains in the world is a high speed maglev train located in

Tokyo, Japan. This train is only one of many maglev trains in use in Japan, yet it is a uniquely

special train. In 2016, it set the world record for the fastest train overall. During a run on the test

track in Yamanashi, the train reached an impressive 374 miles per hour.

A Maglev train in China holds the world record for the fastest moving commercial train,

which runs at 268 miles per hour. Maglev trains in the united states, though are still very quick,

only run at around 150 miles per hour. This is a big difference in speeds between the two trains.

Currently, Maglev trains are being used for high speed transportation, which puts them as

a competitor of the airplane companies. Innovations are being made to maglev trains in order to

increase their speed. If this is successful, maglev train transportation may become the faster and

safer mode of transportation above, traditional locomotives, airplanes, and boats.

In conclusion, the history of maglev trains began within the problems that evolved from

traditional trains. When the maglev technology was utilized, it created a gateway for high speed

transportation all around the world. Now-a-days, maglev trains are very widespread. They are
capable of reaching great speeds and are a safe and reliable form of transportation. The future of

maglev trains is in our hands!

Works Cited.

The Technology. The Maglev Train, zcmaglevtrain.weebly.com/the-technology.html.

Boslaugh, Sarah E. Maglev Train. Encyclopdia Britannica, Encyclopdia Britannica,

Inc., 22 Mar. 2016, www.britannica.com/technology/maglev-train.

Maglev Train. Maglev Train - New World Encyclopedia,

www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Maglev_train.
 Japan's Maglev Train Sets World Record. CNN, Cable News Network, 19 Oct. 2016,

www.cnn.com/2015/04/21/asia/japan-maglev-train-world-record/index.html.