Revolutionary plans are progressing toward the next generation in passenger rail transport in Japan, a seven-carriage train concept based upon magnetically levitated trains.
At the heart of these plans is helium – the trains focus on the use of superconductive magnets for traction, with liquid helium to be used in super-cooling the magnets.
Following reports submitted to the Japanese Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism by the Central Japan Railway (JR Central), the route for the Linear Chuo Shinkansen railway has been decided upon. The route will extend from Minato Ward in Tokyo to downtown Nagoya, says The Gas Review, with the location of stations ‘more or less to be decided upon as well’.
Approval is due to be obtained this summer, with construction of the line due to start this autumn. The first generation or prototype of the train is understood to have been undergoing repeated trials already. Trials are planned to continued through to 2016.
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