Michigan Maglev proposal

[dggar]

Came across this which you may find intersting

http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/internat ... power.html

[AlistairW]

Very interesting although seems odd to in a sense put the entire project back by 10 or so years as they don't want to use existing technology. I'd be more inclined to build a traditional HSL whilst researching alternatives, its not as though the US is short of large cities in need of high speed links. I find the fact that they plan to put all of the services in the same structure rather worrying.

Having just watched the video I'm not sold on this idea AT all! They seem to make it want to do 'everything' all with a zero impact and at zero cost to the tax payer (haha). The Americans seem to have taken public transport and made it private and isn't that the Pirates of the Caribbean theme tune at the end of the video?

Many I'm just being a bit cynical...






Picture from: http://mikes.railhistory.railfan.net

[thenudehamster]

This is either political posturing of gargantuan proportions or a total wind-up.
To begin with, I have my doubts as to whether this is even technically feasible. What's a 'hydrogen battery', anyway? As far as I know the only use for hydrogen in electricity production is in a fuel cell, not a rechargeable battery. Solar charging? I very much doubt that solar technology can supply sufficient power to propel a train at present day speeds, let alone the umpteen hundred km/h speed talked about here. Then there's the topology - while Michigan isn't the most mountainous of states it not Iowa flat, either; there's enough lumps and bumps between Detroit and Lansing to make for some serious civil engineering headaches.
Anyway, there's already a perfectly good rail line between Detroit and Lansing which could be upgraded for a fraction of the cost of a mag-lev - and the journey by freeway is barely over an hour, so in practical terms it's not worth the average American getting out of his car for. They use the car to go two hundred yards to the corner shop; does anyone seriously expect the same people to get in the car, drive to the station, take a train less than fifty miles, and walk when they get there?

Were it not for the date of the report - unless it escaped a week early - I'd treat this report as suspect.

[alexnick]

An idea like this comes up fairly frequently (many times per year). I'm surprised anyone took any notice. The fact that we find it difficult to build new conventional rail lines would suggest that developing anything beyond that is plain impossible.

And AlastairW: Close attempt with the music guess, but I'm pretty sure it's not from POTC. Very similar though.

AN

[dkightley]

Now here's something a bit more down to earth.....and achievable!!

http://www.parrypeoplemovers.com/commun ... nsport.htm

[geezertronic]

Now here's something a bit more down to earth.....and achievable!!

http://www.parrypeoplemovers.com/commun ... nsport.htm

Does anyone know if the Class 139 is being used on the Stourbridge Branch Line yet?

[thenudehamster]

Does anyone know if the Class 139 is being used on the Stourbridge Branch Line yet?

I didn't know Stourbridge was in Michigan...

[AlistairW]

I didn't know Stourbridge was in Michigan...

No but they hope, in the long term they will be able to link Stourbridge Town International directly with Micigan using a combination of magic, wizardary and hard core dance music.

Does anyone know if the Class 139 is being used on the Stourbridge Branch Line yet?

The Parrypeople Mover on the Stourbridge route should be in use very shortly, if not already, its currently on the home page of ww.therailwaycentre.com

The pioneering lightweight, hybrid-power rail vehicle (Class 139) moved another step closer to its launch date after receiving its passenger licence on 26 March 2009.

The first Class 139 Lightweight Railcar from Parry People Movers Ltd (PPML), the first of its kind in the UK, received its passenger certification from Network Rail.
Further crew training will now take place as the Class 139 is phased into service on the Stourbridge Junction to Stourbridge Town branch line.

The railcar will enter service on Saturdays and Sundays in April, operated under subcontract by Pre Metro Operations Ltd, with a view to full service introduction when the new rail timetable begins in May.

London Midland managing director Stephen Banaghan said he was keen to see the railcar enter service in Stourbridge. “This will be an exciting development – the first of its kind in the UK – and we look forward to the advent of this new service at the heart of our network,” he said. “We have been working closely with Parry People Movers since November 2007 during the design, manufacture and commissioning of the new railcars and keenly anticipate their introduction.”

PPML’s chairman John Parry said that the Class 139 represented a new approach to local transport. “London Midland are to be congratulated on looking for innovative solutions to branch line operation,” said Mr Parry. “Our flywheel-hybrid drive makes this type of railcar one of the most environmentally-friendly ways to travel, and the system can be applied to street tramways as well as short railway lines.”

London Midland is currently running a Class 153 on the Stourbridge Junction to Stourbridge Town line.

The second of the Class 139 vehicles 139002 is due to be delivered this week and the prototype vehicle will be removed from the depot at Stourbridge.