Thursday, December 1, 2011

Shanghai fan Maglev site and additional photos


All,
We were pointed to this new fan based website for the Shanghai Maglev.   You will need a website translation service to maneuver around the links.  But there's a lot of great photos everything from different tickets, station, and the Shanghai International Airport Station, and driver station.


You can visit the site here;
http://www.sh-maglev.com/




While looking at their website we came across an additional page of photos of the MAGLEV system in Shanghai.






The original link: 
http://www.2427junction.com/chinahighsmt.html


Translated into English link:
http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&rurl=translate.google.com&tl=en&u=http://www.2427junction.com/chinahighsmt.html&usg=ALkJrhjty5Ghzg0uid53yUTAZCFPaJKDow




Keep Flying On The Ground! 
Ca/Nv Maglev News

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

DX land approval, Victorville in default, Utah HSR, Maglev Snow


All,


While the DesertXpress (DX) HSR (who has the proposed same route as the CA/NV Maglev project but, ends in Victorville, CA) is waiting to see if the FRA will grant its billion dollar loan to get the project started.  This article posted a few days ago about the approval from the BLM for the land needed for the DX project and is looking into the possibility of UTAH connecting to the DX HSR project.


DX/BLM approval story:
[...]


BLM's total acreage for permanent right-of-way along the 200-mile corridor consists of 821 acres of public land and an additional 95 acres for temporary construction. The project will also takeover 2,800 acres of private land.
[...]
http://www.kcet.org/updaily/socal_focus/transportation/desertxpress-gets-approval-from-bureau-of-land-management.html


Victorville default story:
**dont forget that the city of victorville is about to default on $5.3 million in loans for city expansion costs  (including the E220 freeway project as discussed in prior posts) ** this is where the DX station will end.
http://www.kcet.org/updaily/socal_focus/government/with-500-million-in-outstanding-debt-victorville-nearing-insolvancy.html


UTAH:
The westernhsr team would more than likely be the connecting team to the DX project.


https://whsra.com/


Don't forget we posted back on Aug. 16 of this year the idea from a reader to the Vegas Inc website of where additional rail lines could be built from 183 miles (the same distance as the DX project).  


http://canvmaglevnews.blogspot.com/2011_08_01_archive.html


Enoch, Ut. ~ population 3,467 ~ 3 sq. miles
>Stops along the way...
Mesquite, Nv. (population 14,800 ~ 15.6 sq miles)
St. George, Ut, (population 72, 897 ~ 64 sq. miles)
Cedar City, Ut. (population 20, 527 ~ 20 sq. miles) 





Also from our post of "How does Maglev - Maglev?" from the Transrapid website a flash video of Snow operations.  Especially in the southern area of Utah (south of Beaver to Cedar City are lots of hills and heavy snow drift areas).  Something that any HSR will need to consider during the winter months.






http://www.transrapid.de/cgi-tdb/en/basics.prg?session=4762e7c54bcc814f_345417&&r_index=2

Keep Flying On The Ground! 
Ca/Nv Maglev News

Monday, November 21, 2011

Judge side-tracks Vegas Monorail Bankruptcy plan

All,
The Las Vegas monorail has had its bankruptcy plans side-tracked when the plans were not approved by Judge Bruce Markell.  Judge Markell expressed concerns and has been quoted the following:


[...]
“Its current plan dooms it to failure, if not in the next few years, certainly by 2019,” 
[...]


The monorail project is trying to connect additional segments to its operations to secure additional funding for the proposed extension line to McCarran airport.  The Sahara Hotel Station, the Project Linq behind Harrahs, are all part of its plan to emerge out of bankruptcy.


Here is the link to monorail video from (2008).  The interesting part is around 2:23 showcasing the McCarren Airport expansion (rendering included in the video.)


http://canvmaglevnews.blogspot.com/2011/04/las-vegas-monorail-video.html


Keep Flying On The Ground! 
Ca/Nv Maglev News

DX gets OK to build tracks on Fed land, still needs $$$

All,
Heres a great article (with Video) from Las Vegas local T.V.  (abc 13) about how the DX project got the OK to build tracks on federal land (about 900 acres).


Heres a link to the story:
http://www.ktnv.com/news/local/134166913.html


DX still needs to get federal funding loan of $4.9 Billion to get the project started. 


The back story is the Dean Martin Rural Neighborhood Preserve is still fighting and voicing concerns about the project being placed into "their backyard", sight lines, and airport landing and take off clearances from McCarran Airport.


Keep Flying On The Ground! 
Ca/Nv Maglev News

ARTIC wins OC business council award

All,
The ARTIC project received the Orange County Business Council Award for Real Estate Redevelopment and Reuse.


You can read the article here:
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/orange-county-business-council-announces-turning-red-tape-into-red-carpet-award-winners-2011-11-17











Keep Flying On The Ground!
Ca/Nv Maglev News

Friday, November 11, 2011

OCTA Metrolink "DUCKS" promotion

All,
We came across this page today from the OCTA & Metrolink promotions page for the Mighty Ducks.  Ironically passengers will be exiting at the proposed ARTIC station in Anaheim.  With the MAGLEV project we assume that there will be multiple promotions for both Las Vegas and Anaheim.


Heres the main link to the page:
http://www.octa.net/ducksexpress.aspx


And a logo from the main page:




Keep Flying On The Ground! 
Ca/Nv Maglev News

Ontario Airport Numbers Aren't Taking Off

All,
This is an older story but, it has the legs to follow.  Ontario Airport (ONT) has had its passenger numbers continue to fall short of its numbers by 1/3 from 2007 - 2010.


Los Angeles Airports operates both (LAX) and (ONT) airports. 


You can read the article here:
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/oct/31/local/la-me-adv-ontario-airport-20111031
October 31, 2011|By Dan Weikel, Los Angeles Times
[...]
"But Inland Empire leaders suspect something more insidious is at work. Increasingly, they are convinced that Los Angeles World Airports, which operates both LAX and Ontario, has become an absentee landlord bent on a multibillion-dollar modernization of LAX at the expense of its weaker stepchild and potential competitor 56 miles to the east."
[...]
Continued... 
[...]
"Last year, the fees that Ontario charged air carriers per passenger averaged $14.50, about seven times those charged at Burbank, more than twice those at Long Beach, 45% more than Orange County's John Wayne Airport and 31% higher than LAX."
[...]


There are hopes that with the CA/NV Maglev project with its connections from the ARTIC (Anaheim) and first stop (ONT) will help increase these numbers and connect more passengers not only to Las Vegas  (LAS) but to (ONT) as well.

Keep Flying On The Ground! 
Ca/Nv Maglev News

Monday, November 7, 2011

DX still denies interview requests for projects

All,
Its been an interesting (2) weeks for the DX news front but, what is more interesting is that from a few press announcements DX continues to deny requests for interviews.  One would expect in an environment where a company is submitting for BILLIONS of tax payer Federal based loans, that it would freely offer interviews.


Heres the past weeks news about DX and the statements from DX.


Thursday, November 3
Vegas Inc. "DesertXpress wants suppliers to manufacture materials in Nevada and Southern California."
By 
http://www.vegasinc.com/news/2011/nov/03/desertxpress-wants-suppliers-manufacture-materials/
[...]
"Andrew Mack said DesertXpress is in the process of selecting its primary design, engineering and building teams and its rolling stock supplier and operator. Mack declined media interview requests after his presentation.
[...]


Thursday, November 3
8 News now  "Pitch Changes for High-Speed Train to California
By Nathan Baca, Reporter
http://www.8newsnow.com/story/15955549/pitch-changes-for-high-speed-train-to-california
[...]

DesertXpress hopes are pinned on southern California tourists.  Out of 40 million tourists who come to Las Vegas every year, 30 percent come from the Los Angeles area. Using the train from Las Vegas to southern California only saves passengers money if the line is extended to the California high-speed network planned for Palmdale. However, that proposal was hardly mentioned at Thursday's conference. A clear sign to many that the train is meant purely for bringing California tourists and their money to the Las Vegas Strip.
DesertXpress hopes to get its trains moving by 2016.  The company's chief operating officer declined 8 News NOW's request for an interview. [...]

Keep Flying On The Ground! 
Ca/Nv Maglev News

Friday, October 28, 2011

DX clears STB approval

All,
This month has been the month for DX!  Again this week DX has received approval from the Federal Surface Transportation Board to build and operate its high speed train.


(The STB gives approval for all new train projects.)
However, the DX project is still waiting on approval on the $4.9B FRA loan before proceeding.


Here is the link to the article.


http://www.desertdispatch.com/news/train-11836-vegas-victorville.html


Keep Flying On The Ground! 
Ca/Nv Maglev News

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Vegas Neighborhood asks questions about DX

All,
An additional story from the Las Vegas Sun and Richard N. Velotta about the Dean Martin Rural Neighborhood Preserve Association has sent a letter to the FRA announcing questions and concerns about the DX HSR project, including how it will effect McCarran Airport, land use and safety.
Image
The Las Vegas Sun has posted some of the highlights of its questions:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/oct/13/neighborhood-association-slams-desertxpress-rail-p/
[...]

Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011 | 4:41 p.m.
The association says worldwide, no private commercial high-speed railroad is profitable. It said several states’ governors have stopped projects or rejected loans because of the possibility of high operating costs.
• Although Sen. Harry Reid, who supports DesertXpress, has said 80,000 jobs would be directly or indirectly created by the proposal, a federal environmental impact statement says it would generate just over 700 permanent jobs, 70 of which would be in Nevada.
• The DesertXpress ridership study was conducted more than five years ago with optimistic projections. The association cited Amtrak, Megabus and the Las Vegas Monorail as having similar optimistic projections that never materialized.
• The association questions whether Las Vegans would take the train to Victorville only to rent a car there to continue the journey to Southern California.
• The association also rehashed Reid’s withdrawal of support for a maglev project to get behind the DesertXpress, which was backed by Republicans for Reid organizer Sig Rogich, a supporter of the train.
• The environmental impact statement said an elevated track would affect one of McCarran International Airport’s east-west runways.
• The proposed rail line does not conform to a land-use plan along the Dean Martin corridor. The west side of that corridor is designated for rural neighborhood preservation.
• The document questions whether trains on tracks elevated 50 to 85 feet above ground would be affected by high winds and whether the pillars elevating the track would be a safety hazard on the highway below.
• The association said a 4-foot barrier would not contain the sound of the moving train, especially if the tracks are elevated.

[...]
Keep Flying On The Ground! 
Ca/Nv Maglev News

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Anaheim (ARTIC) Station gets Federal $$$!

All,
The Voice of OC website is reporting that ARTIC has been awarded $7.5Million to help build Anaheim's Transportation Hub to Amtrak, Metrolink, ARC, and the proposed, CAHSR and CA/NV Maglev line.


You can read the article here:
http://voiceofoc.org/oc_north/article_21f2745e-fa5f-11e0-8bde-001cc4c002e0.html


One of the issues that have come up will need to be evaluated by ARTIC is how they will be able to serve just AMTRAK and METROLINK while they wait for a few years (as the station will be completed before HSR arrives) for the CAHSR to decide on when HSR will be connected to Anaheim.  


If you remember the FRA was willing to give the project monies however, the monies had to be spent first on showcasing true High Speed, thus the route between Bakersfield and Fresno were selected first to be build.  The Anaheim station was originally selected to have HSR first.


OTHER ARTIC NEWS:
October 24 is the last day that Environmental Assessment will be available for public viewing.  Please see the ARTICINFO page for exact location details.


Keep Flying On The Ground! 
Ca/Nv Maglev News

DX looking for loan and 2012

All,
DX is still moving forward with its plans for its HSR.  They are still looking for a loan (About $6 B) from the Federal Government when previously DX said in 2007 that didnt need one.
[...]
The Hill reporter Manu Raju (09/18/07)
“We have to do this without public dollars because the public dollars are not there to build it,” said Tom Stone, president of DesertXpress. “Our view is we don’t need [federal funding], and we don’t want it."
http://img.thehill.com/homenews/news/13038-debate-intensifies-over-nevada-rail-projects
[...]


The Las Vegas Sun has interviewed Andrew Mack (COO...Chief Operating Officer for DX)and posted the following article from Monday, October 10.  


http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/oct/10/desertxpress-hopes-federal-loan-aims-2012-start-wo/


[...]

Monday, Oct. 10, 2011 | 1:55 p.m.
CARSON CITY – Officials with the proposed high-speed train linking Las Vegas and Southern California expect to get an answer in six to nine months on plans to borrow about $6 billion from the federal government.
If all goes according to plan, construction would start in the final quarter of 2012, said Andrew Mack, chief operating officer of DesertXpress. Mack briefed the state transportation board Monday on the private-public project that he says has been in development for 10 years.
(continues)
He (Andrew Mack) said 45,000 questionnaires were distributed at the California agriculture border station and there was a 5 percent response rate, with an estimated 85-90 percent saying they would try the train.
[...]
So, only 2,550 responded back. with 2,168 saying they would "try the train."  

Keep Flying On The Ground! 
Ca/Nv Maglev News

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Tenerife President T.V. interview for Transrapid project

All,
If you can translate GERMAN theres is a (12:00) video interview with the Dr. Ricardo Melchior who is the President of the Tenerife Islands.


He was interviewed this week in the following news article.  
http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&rurl=translate.google.com&tl=en&u=http://www.european-circle.de/capital-beat/capital-beat/datum/2011/10/05/dr-ricardo-melchior.html&usg=ALkJrhh4ITntFkBm6kTiIcZpQSmGJPkPnw


We have reached out to our German site followers for a brief overview of what was discussed.  We will post as soon as possible.


Keep Flying On The Ground! 
Ca/Nv Maglev News

Transrapid connecting Dallas to Fort Worth?

All,
The stories are all over the German Newspapers today that there is heavy interest in having a Transrapid train running from Fort Worth to Dallas Texas.


Here is the English version of the story here (translated via Google).
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nwzonline.de%2F
[...]
LATHEN - The end of the Transrapid test track in Lathen (Ems) is sealed despite U.S. interest in the magnetic levitation technology. 

It was true that Lower Saxony's economics minister Joerg Bode (FDP) for a trip to the USA in Houston, recruited for the Transrapid, a ministry spokesman said on Wednesday. Thereupon, the Mayor of the city but only their general interest in the art for a connection from Houston to Dallas reaffirmed. 

The proposal itself is already one for the inauguration of U.S. President Barack Obama has developed idea. Do not give a call or have concrete plans, it said the spokesman in Hanover. 

The operating license for the test track in Emsland, expires at the end of October and will probably be extended until the end of the year, it said the ministry. In addition, there are the Confederation, but no financial commitments to support the continued operation of more. 

[...]


Unfortunately we can not find ANY English or Texas newspaper or T.V. station, or TxDOT website to confirm the story.  We will keep you informed if we find any additional confirming stories.


Keep Flying On The Ground! 
Ca/Nv Maglev News

Monday, September 26, 2011

Ivanpah Basin and PROPOSED McCarran Airport Expansion page.

All,


If you ever wanted to know about all the SOLAR projects happening in both the Ivanpah and San Bernadino areas we have found the site for you!


IVANPAH SOLAR PROJECT:
There are some great photos INCLUDING AERIAL of the project area and some updates...
We first linked to this Solar project back in December 2010.  There is no mention and we dont have any updates if either DX or MAGLEV will tap into these power-plants for additional needed power.  Also there is still no word if DX will follow I-15 or have to go around the solar project.  They also cover the areas for solar near Boulder City, Nv.


IVANPAH (McCARRAN Expansion) AIRPORT (proposed)
There are a few links from this page that cover the proposed... (now on hold) the McCarran Airport that would follow the I-15 freeway.  The Blue Area is airport area.  You can follow this (If ever re-started) here:  http://www.snvairporteis.com/

You can also find a layout of the proposed airport here:





Keep Flying On The Ground! 
Ca/Nv Maglev News

Updates from ARTIC (3)!

All,
As ARTIC keeps on moving forward with Artists being selected to provide the final prototypes for the area and construction teams are in the final selections as well... ARTIC is anticipating ground breaking to still take place sometime Spring/Summer of 2012 for a 2014 opening with a proposed ARC route via ARTIC to the Disneyland Resort / and Anaheim Convention Center Areas opening in 2018.


PRESENTATION SLIDES:
ARTIC has updated their powerpoint presentation slides!  You can check them out here!  Very classy and updated photos and side elevations!
ARTIC Main Page Presentation slides


ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS:
From the home page from ARTICINFO.com they have posted some information regarding the relocation of the Metrolink/Amtrack station.  ARTIC has also released their Environmental Assessment papers for the project here:
http://www.anaheim.net/article.asp?id=4105


Something interesting to view if you click on the Aesthetics section there are questions that are asked if "would the project create a new source of substantial light or glare, which would adversely affect day or nighttime views in the area.
(heres a photo that we posted back in December)





The interesting response is the following...



"ARTIC will create an additional source of light to the nighttime sky. The covering used for the Intermodal Terminal will be translucent, which will diffuse light emitted from the facility. The overall appearance of the Intermodal Terminal at night will be of a glowing half-globe, instead of a glaring dome with direct light shining out in all directions. Nighttime lights are necessary for the safety and security of employees and passengers on site and along the pedestrian bridge and trail easement, but outdoor light fixtures will be shielded so that lighting is focused downward to restrict any light spillover. Nighttime construction activities will occur. These instances will be temporary and will adhere to local regulations."


ARTIC attending conference
ARTIC has also posted on Facebook today that they will be attending the following conference this OCTOBER!

"ARTIC will be exhibiting at the ULI Fall conference at the Los Angeles Convention Center October 26-28. ARTIC is pleased to be a part of the Parsons Brinkerhoff (PB) booth #315. The PB/HOK team is responsible for design and engineering for ARTIC. If you are at ULI, be sure to check us out. http://ulifall.org/"






Keep Flying On The Ground! 
Ca/Nv Maglev News

Waiting for future Maglev News....

All,


Well it is obvious that the news postings for MAGLEV have died down a bit while the US is looking into how to reduce the fiscal budget and how to move forward on transportation projects.  We have some smaller bits and pieces of news that hopes to tide you, the readers and supporters until we get more news.


Keep Flying On The Ground!
Ca/Nv Maglev News

Thursday, September 22, 2011

The end of Lathen = The end of Transrapid?

All,
5 years ago today, September 22 is known as the Transrapid disaster where 23 people died when dispatchers released the Transrapid Train that morning for additional tour and train testing; while forgetting that there was still a maintenance vehicle (a truck type vehicle that uses an engine and rolls along the top of the track checking the long stator motor wiring) on the track.  German investigators determined that there were human errors that allowed the train to go out onto the track.  


maglev_crash_lift.jpg





Karl-Heinz Weber (CDU) says the following about the future of the Lathen track in Germany.


http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.welt.de%2Fprint%2Fdie_welt%2Fhamburg%2Farticle13615220%2FTransrapid-Teststrecke-ist-ohne-Zukunft.html
[...]
Municipality mayor, Karl-Heinz Weber (CDU) are themselves sober. "Like everything in life is also the test facility is limited in time," he says. As it stands, probably at the end of the year is finally closing on the test track. Weber tries to see the positives: after all, there is an operable vehicle, and he hoped that it succeed, to build on the Canary island of Tenerife a distance. "Personally, I think it's a shame," he says, and he means not only does it in his community, an era comes to an end - but also that there are no users track in Germany.One should not be surprised that it was never able to market the Magnetzug international if it does not even give the country a regular use.
[...] 


So, can it be true?  


With the possibility of future projects still on the drawing boards (and no current movement)... Tenerife (SPAIN), Rio (for the Olympics), Ca-Nv; Chattanooga - Atlanta; Pittsburgh; Baltimore-Washington (USA), Ultraspeed (UK), Swiss Rapide (Switzerland) is the Transrapid in its final stages and marketing up to its partners Siemens/ThyssenKrup? 


Questions that only Siemens/ThyssenKrup can answer.  Which everyone is hoping for.


Keep Flying On The Ground! 
Ca/Nv Maglev News