Transrapid at it again

[dbromage@fang.omni.com.au (David Bromage)]

The Transrapid Roadshow was back in Canberra yesterday, trying to get the
Speedrail project cancelled in favour of a maglev. Here's a summary of the
points their hired mouthpiece raised. My comments in square brackets.

- TGV is as costly as maglev [TGV is less than half ber km, isn't it?]
- The TGV system has peaked, wheel stress at higher speeds will cause
  shattered wheels. The ICE and Pendolino accidents were quoted.
- running at higher speeds will cause trains to become airborne due to
  centripetal forces on the wheels. [I didn't know that wheels were that
  aerodynamic. :)  Never heard of spoilers?]
- conventional rail cannot go any faster or compete with maglev
- TGV can't use existing track [Yes it can and does. Maglev can't use
  existing track!]
- conventional high speed railways run at ground level, need fences and
  grade separated crossings. [This is nothing new.]
- TGV is a disaster, there will be lots of accidents. [~10 deaths in 17
  years is better than most railways in the world.]
- There will be a major TGV crash and it will be abandoned. [There was
  one, and it wasn't. Only 2 deaths.]
- Transrapid cannot fall off the guideway. [If a tree falls over the
  guideway?]
- maglev can run at 10-12% gradients. [Bit uncomfortable for the
  passengers trying to walk to the toilet or the buffet.]
- maglev can use existing tunnels. [They're not wide enough, either for
  the width of the vehicles or the extra space needed anyway for passing.]
- Germany will have maglev running by 2003 [Isn't it October 2006?]
- The USA is going to build a commercial line in Pittsburgh. [Didn't
  Philadelphia just release a report saying maglev was not viable for
  passenger traffic?]
- If the Transrapid loses power, it will run onto rubber wheels until it
  stops [my comment - planes don't land at 500km/h, and have thrust
  reversers to slow them down quickly.]
- Maglev is electric and uses "cleaner" electricity. [TGV is also electric.]
- Maglev energy consuption is lower [than aircraft, maybe]
- Germany estimates maglev will replace air traffic up to 1000km.

Cheers
David