Maglev high-speed rail, financed (partially) by Japan, is still under consideration for the stretch between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. It would take a princely sum to build.
With the potential to rival airliners for speed, maglev trains are something of a pipe dream in this country. Joe Fox writes, "Superconducting maglev trains ('SCMAGLEV,' to be even more precise) are a rail technology that eschews rails, instead sitting within a concrete guideway. Trains are surrounded by superconducting magnets on each side, causing them to 'float' in the guideway."
Despite a lack of American high-speed rail savvy, backers near the nation's capital are eyeing the concept. "The Baltimore-Washington Rapid Rail (BWRR) organization held a series of open houses across the region in December to showcase the work that they have done so far, and solicit general public comment on their Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)."
The prospect of a 15-minute ride from D.C. to Baltimore is compelling, and the plan envisions an extension to New York City. But who puts up the money? "The Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) has offered to pay half the cost of the D.C.-to-Baltimore line. The remainder of the initial funding would come from a yet-to-be-identified mix of (American) federal, state, and private sources."
FULL STORY: The idea for a maglev train from DC to Baltimore keeps…floating down the track
LaHood Rides MagLev
The line may only be 12 miles, but the train speeds at 312 mph. The Secretary of Transportation was in Japan as part of the effort to bring high speed rail to the U.S. though it's not clear whether he is in fact considering the maglev technology.
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The Federal Railroad Administration recently released a preliminary study of a proposed high-speed maglev train route between Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
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