Re:China unveils 600 kph maglev train
by bluGill on Tuesday July 20, 2021 @02:17PM
(#27897244)
Maglev at high speeds is cheaper operating costs than normal rail. (normal rail - in tests - has gone just as fast as existing maglev (not this future advance, what is running in production service) The limit to normal rail is actually the power supply (overhead wires) and not the wheels on steel rails. However as you go faster maglev operating costs are cheaper than normal rail at the same speed (more than slower speed normal rail). Also maglev needs less track maintenance which is a large advantage in operating costs.
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I mean the record speeds for maglev and steel wheel trains aren't far apart — 603 km/h v. 574 km/h. My understanding is the limits on steel wheel trains in practice are managing airflow on ballasted track (as the airflow can pick up lose ballast and propel it into the train or anything else nearby) along with pantograph-catenary contact as you mention.
My understanding about maglev operational costs is that the energy consumption of each service is higher (due to the need to maintain the electromagnets, which end up consuming more energy than is used to overcome the rolling resistance of steel-on-steel), though the overall operating costs are hard to judge (especially when the only operational line is both short and there is little in the way of public data about its costs).