MAGLEV MOVIE MONDAY (TUESDAY)

Heres a new but older video of the Transrapid 08.  Even has some editing of Transrapid track for the proposed Munich line.


Here is another newer but older video of the Transrapid 07.  Has some really good video quality!  Unfortunately it is all in German.



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Ca/Nv Maglev News

Last Transrapid test ride in Lathen

All,
Yes it is true.  The test track for Transrapid has been shut down in Lathen Germany.  The last rides that went out were on November 28 for a "Spanish delegation" (the Tenerife project in Spain).


However, there are some great stats about the test track.
* Test Track opened in 1987
* 800,000 kilometers traveled = (497,097 miles) 
* The equator circumference of the Earth is 24,902 miles or 20 trips around the earth
* 170 mph on a 19.7 mile track = on average 21,613 miles tested each year
* 450 mph was achieved on June 10 1993
* Half a million visitors took tours in Lathen Germany where only 5,882 people live


* It will cost Germany $40M Euros to convert the test track to test non-contact charging for electric vehicles.


The closing of Lathen does not yet mean an end for Transrapid.


Other projects are still in planning stages:
* Tenerife Spain project is still a go, waiting for final green light.
* Swiss Rapide is in planning stages
* UK Ultraspeed is in planning stages
* CA/NV project is still a go, waiting for funds to approve final environmental
* Pittsburgh project has filled for re-structuring
* Atlanta to Chattanooga is in planning stages
* Baltimore/DC project ???


http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fweser-ems.business-on.de%2Ftransrapid-versuchsanlage-bund-elektromobilitaet-lathen-arbeitsplatzabbau-_id22565.html


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transrapid


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Ca/Nv Maglev News

Antonovich suggests Amtrak speed upgrade instead of HSR

All,
There is a lot of discussion about the costs with the HSR for CA now, that the proposed costs have tripled.

Supervisor Antonovich (Antelope Valley/San Fernando/Alhambra/Burbank areas), has suggested instead of building a HSR route from Lancaster to San Diego that an upgrade of Metrolink and Amtrak rails to 110 mph should be considered due to costs.

(Though it would be very hard to sell a faster train to have passengers get off of one train to connect to faster HSR train.  The HSR then does not become a true HSR with speeds not even reaching 150).

We couldnt find the official release from Supervisors Antonovich's website but, heres the article from Santa Clarita Valley News.

http://scvnews.com/?p=24635

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Ca/Nv Maglev News

CA HSR route approved for Palmdale, DX connection, E220

All,
Lots of HSR talk this week including this.  After reports last summer that the Antelope Valley (Lancaster/Palmdale) route vs. Grapevine/Gorman route would be too expensive for the CA HSR a new report has been released this week.  The report estimates that now the Antelope Valley route is now actually the better choice with a longer route (3 to 5 mins), less maintenance costs, and a possible $50M in ridership revenue.  


There is still talk about the master plan of connecting HSR to the DX with a expansion route from Palmdale to Victorville (DX station), primarily following the West/East (still in proposed planning stages) E-220 freeway.  (readers, dont forget that there are no proposed government submissions to bring the DX to Palmdale and the CA HSR).  As the article states "proposed connection."


http://www.kcet.org/updaily/socal_focus/transportation/avoid-the-grapevine-high-speed-rail-authority-staff-recommends.html

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bullet-train-20120110,0,2183342.story




Keep Flying On The Ground! 
Ca/Nv Maglev News

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

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:
[...]

by Ed Fuentes

on November 27, 2011 1:05 PM

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

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