• @[email protected]
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    31 year ago

    Superconducter maglevs are feasible and have been in service for years. They are building a large line in Japan.

    • fearout
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      1 year ago

      You’re right, haven’t heard about that one. They actually do use superconducting magnets on a train that runs along a magnetic track.

      But I feel like my feasibility comment still stands. It seems like all they had built is a 18km test track, and there’s some info about extending it to 48 km, but it doesn’t seem like the extended part uses superconducting tech yet, it only mentions regular maglev. The Tokyo — Osaka line is planned for 2037. So yeah, its technically possible, but it’s not like you can cover Europe or the US with this type of track for any sensible amount of money.

      That’s the cool part about room temperature superconductors, they make this type of tech possible on much larger scales.

      • @[email protected]
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        11 year ago

        It sounds like the full line will eventually go across most of Japan and operate in the same way as the test track, however it is expected to be very expensive, and room temperature superconductors would likely lower the cost.