Should Maglev Train be Funded in the

United States?

A recommendation from: Andrew Hall

i
Funding Maglev Trains in the United States:
Recommendation Report

Prepared for: Kenneth Rayes, Instructor of English 2152-002,

Instructor at the University of New Orleans
Prepared by: Andrew Hall, Student of English 2152-002,
Engineering undergrad at the University of New Orleans

May 10, 2011

ii
 Abstract

Funding Maglev Trains in the United States: Recommendation

Report
Prepared by: Andrew Hall, Student of English 2152-002,
Engineering undergrad at the University of New Orleans

The population in the United States is rising steadily. This directly increases the demand for a more
efficient mass transit system. The citizens will need more alternatives for transportation. Alternatives
that are modern and efficient. If the U.S. does not address this problem our airports, interstate
highways, and railroads could be in a perpetual state of gridlock. Maglev trains may be a solution to
this problem. Maglev trains, or magnetically levitating trains, are one of the most advanced and
innovative methods of transportation. These state-of-the-art trains use magnets to allow the cars to
float along the tracks at high speed. Implementing these trains in our region could have a significantly
positive impact on our nation's future. The purpose of this report is to recommend whether Maglev
trains should or should not be funded in the United States. I compiled information from various
sources, including my own knowledge of the subject, to make an honest, unbiased assessment of this
topic. I based my recommendation off of reliable information that I found in my sources, not my own
opinion. I explored and analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of Maglev trains, so that I could
give a conclusive recommendation. And based on the information that I gathered, I concluded that
Maglev trains would be a great improvement to our transportation system, so they should be funded in
the U.S. These high-speed, environmentally-friendly trains will relieve pressure on fossil fuel
consumption and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, because they use magnetic propulsion instead of
combustion to accelerate. The safety and high-speed capability of these trains make them a great
alternative to other conventional modes of transportation. The advantages of Maglev trains highly
outweigh the disadvantages, so I strongly endorse the concept of financing the construction and
operation of public Maglev trains in the United States.

Keywords: trains, magnet, maglev, funding, magnetically, levitating, railroad, transportation, high-
speed, environmentally-friendly, recommendation,

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 Table of Contents

Cover...........................................................................................................................................................
i

Title Sheet.................................................................................................................................................ii

Abstract...................................................................................................................................................iii

Introduction..............................................................................................................................................1

Research Methods....................................................................................................................................2

Results.......................................................................................................................................................3

1. Evaluating the the costs...............................................................................................................3

2. The speed factor........................................................................................................................3-4

3. The efficiency of Maglev trains...................................................................................................4

4. Safety concerns.............................................................................................................................5

5. Impact on the environment.........................................................................................................5

6. Who should finance the project..................................................................................................6

7. The future of Maglev trains in the United States......................................................................7

Conclusion.................................................................................................................................................8

Recommendation......................................................................................................................................9

References..........................................................................................................................................10-11

Glossary...................................................................................................................................................12

List of Illustrations
Figures

Figure 1: Shanghai's Maglev in action.....................................................................................................5

Figure 2: An illustration showing how greenhouse affect........................................................................6

Figure 3: 1st Wave in blue, 2nd Wave in Green and 3rd Wave in red........................................................................7

Tables

Table 1: Comparison of cost per mile for passengers................................................................................3

 Introduction

In the spring of 2011, I was assigned to complete this recommendation report as a final project in my
technical writing class. The goal of this report is to research, analyze, and recommend a topic of
relevance. I chose to research the state-of-the-art Maglev trains. It is clear that the United States need
new methods of transportation that add alternatives to the existing methods. I felt that I was
enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and interested enough to make a recommendation and produce a report
on this topic. When I conducted my research, it was my goal to analyze the advantages and
disadvantages Maglev trains. When considering my recommendation for funding these trains, I kept
these factors in my mind: cost, safety, impact on the population, effects on the ecosystem,
efficiency,and the overall pros and cons of Maglev trains.

It is a fact that the population in the United States is steadily increasing. This puts a lot of pressure on
the transportation systems. Many of the highways and interstates are clogged with cars on a daily
basis. Airports are congested and it's not uncommon to have to pay too much money for tickets or
experience delays and layovers. Airplanes may be fast, but they certainly aren't as efficient as they
should be. Also, gasoline prices are constantly rising, thus making it more expensive to travel through
these means. All of these issues are burdening our infrastructure. There are many approaches to
solving this problem. This gave me the chance to address this issue with a proposal for introducing the
a Maglev transit system in the United States.

I started my research in the libraries and book stores. Unfortunately, these facilities have little to no
information about Maglev trains, so I was forced to continue my research through the internet. There is
a plethora of information on the internet, but I was still disappointed in the lack of popularity. I wanted
to consider a few main issues when I did my research. First, the cost of these trains was huge factor
when determining my recommendation. Cost has a direct influence on the decision of those who would
consider financing the project. So, it was also beneficial for me to explore who would be the best
financier, the government or a private corporation. Then, I considered the safety of these trains. Not
many people would want to invest in or ride these trains if they weren't relatively safe. It was also very
important for me to research the impact these trains would have on the population and ecosystem.
Maglev trains are very expensive, so they have to be beneficial enough to offset the high costs. Finally,
I analyzed the pros and cons of Maglev trains as a mode of transportation. Maglev trains won't have
many passengers if they can't compete with pre-existing modes of transportation, such as airplanes and
automobiles.

I concluded that Maglev trains, with their superior speed and efficiency, would be a great addition to
the nation's transportation system. The relative safety of these trains would make them appealing to
potential passengers. The high-speed capabilities of these trains surpass any other type of travel
method on land. These trains should have a positive impact on the ecosystem, because they do not emit
greenhouse gases or consume many resources. Having this alternative should unburden the
infrastructure and offer another high-speed mode of transportation to the people. So, the initial
investment may be quite costly, but any financier that is willing to fund the the project will probably
not regret the choice after the construction is complete. I recommend that Maglev trains should be
funded in the United States.

In the following sections, I will provided detailed information about my research methods, the results I
obtained, the conclusions I drew from the results, and my formal recommendation.
 1
Research Methods

To gain a better understanding of Maglev trains and their impact on society, I performed the following
tasks:
1) First, I needed to know the average cost of Maglev trains. So, I conducted the necessary
research to determine the the cost of construction. The results were numerous and I had enough
information to make a solid conclusion. Then, I researched the average cost-per-mile of several
transportation methods. I compared them, and found that Maglev trains are the cheapest
method for passengers to take.

2) Next, I considered the impact speed would have on my decision. I found that most Maglev
trains travel at speeds that exceed those of conventional trains. Although jets are faster, I took
into consideration that airports are very congested and take a long time to get through. So, I
was able to conclude that Maglev trains aren't the fastest mode of travel, but they don't require
you to go through time-consuming processes and delays. Traffic and weather have a negative
impact on travel time, except when traveling on a Maglev train. In most cases, this makes
makes the actual travel time a lot shorter than other methods when traveling on Maglev trains.

3) Then I knew that efficiency was going to be a big factor in my decision. Energy is a hot topic
in the United States, especially clean energy. Through my research, I found that Maglev trains
do not directly use fossil fuels, and they are actually more energy efficient than all other modes
of high-speed transportation. This is definitely a major factor in my decision, so I made sure
that the information was correct.

4) Safety is very important when operating any type of machinery. Originally, I was very
concerned about magnetic radiation, but after conducting my research, I found that these trains
emit the same radiation as a toaster. I was also concerned about the chance of crashes and fires,
but it seems that Maglev technology has plenty of fail-safe systems that keep them from
crashing. The absence of fuel makes the chance of fire almost nonexistent, and the elevated and
barricaded tracks keep foreign bodies off the tracks.

5) After that, I took into consideration the effects Maglev trains have on the environment. Because
of the low carbon emission, these trains do not cause global warming. Animals are safe from
these trains because of the design of the tracks. Also, Maglev tracks do not require large scale
land clearance to build, unlike conventional trains. Finally, Maglev trains are quiet and do not
disturb the environment with loud noise.

6) I then wanted to determine who would be the best candidate for funding construction,
operations, and maintenance of these Maglev trains. Should it be a private or federal party?
Well I explored some of the pros and cons of this subject, and I concluded that both would work
but private funding would probably be more effective than federal.

7) Then, I took a look at some of the Maglev projects that have been proposed in the United States.
I explored the advantages of utilizing this technology in the U.S., and came up with a few
opinions on the what the future of the U.S. would be like if we incorporate Maglev technology
into our infrastructure

8) Finally, I analyzed the data I gather and formulated my recommendation.

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Results

This section provides the results of my research. I cover the issues of cost, speed, efficiency,
safety, impact on the environment, potential investors, and the future of Maglev trains in the
U.S. These results correspond to the tasks described in the “Research Methods” section.

1. Evaluating the the costs

The cost of the Maglev trains is the main factor in determining my recommendation. If
the costs are too high, no one will be willing to invest in this technology. Fortunately,
the initial costs of Maglev trains ,about 30-40 million dollars per mile of dual-track
guide-ways, are equal to or less than costs or conventional high speed railroads (“Cost
Data-” n.d.). This includes all components, such as: tracks, signals, operating
systems, and power-lines (“Cost Data-” n.d.). The non-contact levitation system of the
Maglev makes the repair and maintenance costs very low, because the frictionless
design eliminates wear and tear on all of the components, as opposed to conventional
trains (Tsuruoka, 2011). So, it is obvious that the Maglev trains have a clear advantage
over conventional trains because of their superior design and low maintenance costs.

But what about the costs for the passengers? Because of their sleek, modern designs,
one might feel that riding on a Maglev train would be expensive. This is not true at all.
It is actually estimated that it would be cheaper to ride a Maglev, per-mile, than
traveling in a car, high-speed rail train, or airplane (“The Maglev”, n.d.). See the table
below:

Airplane 15 cents per mile

High Speed Rail 50 cents per mile
Automobiles 40 cents per mile
Maglev 3 cents per mile
Table 1: Comparison of cost per mile for passengers.

As you can see in table 1, Maglev trains are estimated to be the cheapest method of
transportation per mile. This is because of the low maintenance and minimal
consumption of resources. This means that profits should increase exponentially
after the initial expenses are regained. This creates incentive for any company that
is interested in a long term investment in this technology.

2. The speed factor

The high-speed capabilities of the Maglev trains make them superior to other modes of
transportation. Most automobiles cannot exceed 100mph, and speed limits keep them
from traveling over 80mph. Conventional high-speed trains do not travel faster than
200mph, yet Maglev trains can go up to or higher than 300mph (“Extracts From:”, n.d.,
p. 3). Most Boeing 747 planes fly at speeds of 540-570mph (Josekutty , 2002).
 3
Airplanes have the advantage of speed of raw speed, but this isn't as profound when
you consider the massive delays that airline passengers often experience. Layovers
and cancellations are common problems in airline travel. Bad weather and minor
technical problems will almost always result in a canceled or delayed flight. Also, when
traveling through commercial airlines, all passengers have to go through a
time-consuming process before and after they actually travel. This process consists of:
passing through security, going through luggage checkout, boarding the plane, waiting
to take-off, landing, dismounting, walking through an airport, receiving your luggage,
and finding a mode of transportation outside of the airport. All of these extraneous
steps almost negate the speed advantage that airplanes have.

Also, Maglev passengers do not experience most of these time-consuming factors.

They will experience an expedited process that will potentially allow passengers to
arrive at their destinations on time. Delays and layovers are almost nonexistent.
Weather does not affect Maglev trains like other modes of transportation (Muller,
1998). Here is a small paragraph from “Magnetic Levitation for Transportation” that
explains the advantage of Maglev trains in bad weather conditions:

“A major advantage of conventional rail systems versus other methods of

transportation is their ability to operate in almost all weather conditions.
Maglev systems are even better prepared for icy conditions because they
do not require overhead power lines nor pantographs - parts that are
subject to freezing on conventional railroads. The guidance and
propulsion components are mounted below the guide-way where they are
protected from ice and driving snow. Snow will rarely accumulate on the
guide-way because of the frequency of trains and the wind that will easily
remove it from elevated sections. The gap of 150 mm between the
bottom of the vehicle and the top of the guide-way allows operation even
if snow builds up on the guide-way. In especially poor weather
conditions, snow clearance vehicles can be deployed to clear the guide-
way.” (Muller, 1998)

So, it is obvious that Maglev trains aren't the fastest mode of transportation, but they
seem to be the most efficient.

3. Efficiency of Maglev trains

Unlike automobiles, planes, and conventional trains, Maglev trains do not use fossil
fuels to operate. They use electricity that can be produced from a variety of sources,
such as: coal-fired , nuclear, hydro, fusion, wind, or solar power plants, nuclear being
the most efficient (Powell, 2005). Global fuel supplies are depleting while the demand
is growing. The United States will eventually need an alternative to its oil dependency,
so Maglev trains are an excellent replacement to conventional means. Most
automobiles in the U.S. have an average of 30 miles-per-gallon (“Table 4-23:”, 2010).
Passenger jets average 38 miles-per-gallon and Amtrak trains average 83 miles-per-
gallon (“Train vs Plane vs Car”, 2007). Maglev trains consume only 0.4 megajoules of
energy per mile, that's 8% of the energy consumption of a typical 60mph automobile
(Powell, 2005). Since Maglev trains do not use oil to run, there is no carbon dioxide
emission. This has a positive impact on the planet and will be discussed in a later.
 4
4. Safety concerns
Safety is a huge concern for the investors and passengers. Safety is important when
considering the use of Maglev trains. Automobile crashes happen daily, conventional
train accidents occur often, and plane crashes happen occasionally. Maglev trains
travel at high speeds, but they have many protective features that make them safer
than conventional trains. First, the tracks are elevated on platforms, so there is
absolutely no chance of them crashing into vehicles (Powell, 2005). Also, the
computerized systems prevent two trains from being on the same track and the system
will automatically stop the train if any obstacles are on the track (“China Maglev's”,
2006). Since Maglev trains do not use fuel, there is no risk of fuel-fed fires on the train.
Maglev trains do not have wheels, so derailment, which is a common problem with
conventional trains, is virtually impossible (Chong´en , n.d.). According to officials from
the Shanghai Maglev Project, “The magnetic radiation is negligible” and “Passenger
safety is guaranteed” (Chong´en , n.d.).

China's Shanghai Maglev, which has been in operation since January 2004, has safely
transported thousands of passengers, and the only notable incident was a small cabin
fire that didn't harm anyone (“Shanghai Maglev”, 2011). This is concrete evidence that
Maglev trains can safely transport thousands of passengers in the U.S. Finally, due to
the levitation, Maglev trains do not experience turbulence or disturbance. This allows
passengers to enjoy a safe, smooth ride.

Figure 1: Shanghai's Maglev in action.

5. Impact on the environment

As previously stated, Maglev trains do not directly emit carbon dioxide or any other
greenhouse gases. This is good because greenhouse gases destroy the atmosphere
and cause global warming. Because they run off of electricity, Maglev trains may
indirectly emit relatively small amounts of carbon dioxide if they receive energy from
coal or natural-gas plants, but this amount of emission is minute compared to the
amount that cars, conventional trains, and planes emit (Powell, 2005). Maglev trains
will not destroy the land like conventional trains because the tracks do not require as
much land clearance to build, and the magnetic fields released by Maglev trains are
lower than those that are released from a household toaster (Muller, 1998). Also, the
design of the tracks reduce the chance of animals being hit by the trains. Finally, the
frictionless design of Maglev trains make them very quiet, so this is very beneficial to
urban and suburban areas (“Super High”, n.d.)
 5

Figure 2: An illustration showing how greenhouse gases

affect the atmosphere and global temperature.

6. Who should finance this project?

Who would be the proper financier for this project, the government or a private
corporation? Well both have their advantages and disadvantages. A private investor,
such as Interstate Maglev Project, may be better because that corporation will be more
concerned with the risks, so the owners and employees may show more concern
towards the quality and well-being of the project. But, this is also a disadvantage
because it makes private corporations scared to risk the investment,and a private
investor may not have the funds or resources to complete the project. A government
funded Maglev system maybe be easily completed, but the lack of personal investment
may have a negative effect on the quality. Also, the federal deficit is already too high,
14 trillion dollars (E. Hall, 2011). Tax payers should not have to pay for this project.

A federally funded Maglev project doesn't seem to be a realistic vision anyway,

because many lobbyist in Washington are pushing President Obama to consider a high
-speed steel rail system over the Maglev (“The Maglev”, n.d.). So it is up to a private
corporation to finance this project. This isn't bad because our society is capitalistic. It
is better to have a private corporation fund the Maglev project, because it offers public
ownership to the citizens and creates a competitive market. So, a private corporation
should finance this project, and if their funds aren't adequate enough, they can lobby
for federal grants and subsidies. On the next page is a map showing the Maglev grid
that the Interstate Maglev Project has proposed to build(“The Maglev”, n.d.).
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Figure 3: 1st Wave in blue, 2nd Wave in Green and 3rd Wave in red

7. The future of the Maglev trains in the United States

Many Maglev projects have already been proposed in the U.S., but none of them have
made it passed the planning stage. One plan was to have a Maglev train that goes
from Disney Land, California to Las Vegas, Nevada (“300-mph train “, 2008). Another
plan was proposed to have a Maglev train that would connect Washington D.C. and
Baltimore, which was supposed to be both privately and publicly funded (“The
Baltimore-Washington”, 2003). Maglev trains may not be too popular in the United
States right now, but their popularity will rise when more people learn about their
benefits. Maybe, in the near future, the U.S. will have a successful Maglev train like
Shanghai's Transrapid Maglev. The U.S. is falling behind other nations technologically,
so we need to update our infrastructure. A Maglev train is just what the people need.
Initial costs may be substantial, but the increase in tourism and economic stimulation
from the Maglev trains will have a positive effect on the nation.
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Conclusion

Maglev trains are the future of transportation. The advantages clearly outweigh the disadvantages. The
speed, efficiency, safety, and benefits they offer to the people should be enough to make someone want
to fund this project in the U.S. But, it seems that costs and politics are holding us back from a better
future. These trains are popular in other modern nations for a reason. The Chinese have proven that the
technology is safe, affordable, and effective. A financier needs take some initiative and help kick-start
a new revolution in this nation, so that our children will have a brighter future.
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Recommendation

I definitely recommend that Maglev trains should be funded in the United States. It should be a
privately funded project that is conducted professionally. Many citizens will benefit from this, and the
world will be impressed. This has been a dream for many, including myself. The future is our choice to
make, and Maglev trains should be a part of it.
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References

China maglev's. (09/25/2006). Retrieved 05/09/2011, from

http://english.sina.com/business/1/2006/0925/90160.html Inline Citation -- (China
maglev's., 09/25/2006)

Chong´en, H.C. The technology is mature, safe, and reliable. Retrieved 05/09/2011, from
http://thetransitcoalition.us/MiscInfo/InterviewComWu-Wenhui.htm
Inline Citation – (Chong´en, n.d.)

Cost Data – HSM vs. Existing Modes. Retrieved 05/08/2011, from http://namti.org/?
page_id=275 Inline Citation -- ( Cost Data – HSM vs. Existing Modes., n.d.)

Extracts From: National Maglev Initiative . Retrieved 05/09/2011, from

http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blrailroad2.htm#TOP Inline Citation --
( Extracts From: National Maglev Initiative ., n.d.)

Hall, E.H. (05/05/2011). U.S. NATIONAL DEBT CLOCK. Retrieved 05/09/2011, from
http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/ Inline Citation -- (Hall, 05/05/2011)

Josekutty, J.J. (2002). Speed of a Commercial Jet Airplane. Retrieved 05/09/2011, from
http://hypertextbook.com/facts/2002/JobyJosekutty.shtml Inline Citation -- (Josekutty,
2002)

Muller, C.M. (January 23, 1998). Magnetic Levitation for Transportation. Retrieved
05/09/2011, from http://www.railserve.com/maglev.html Inline Citation -- (Muller,
January 23, 1998)

Shanghai Maglev Train. (2011). Retrieved 05/09/2011, from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_Maglev_Train Inline Citation -- ( Shanghai
Maglev Train., 2011)

Super High Speed Trains - Maglev . Retrieved 05/09/2011, from

http://4rail.net/ref_superfast_maglev.html Inline Citation -- ( Super High Speed Trains -
Maglev ., )

Table 4-23: Average Fuel Efficiency of U.S. Passenger Cars and Light Trucks. (2010).
Retrieved 05/09/2011, from http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation
_statistics/html/table_04_23.html Inline Citation -- ( Table 4-23: Average Fuel Efficiency
of U.S. Passenger Cars and Light Trucks., 2010)

The Baltimore-Washington Maglev Project. (2003). Retrieved 05/09/2011, from

http://www.bwmaglev.com/default.htm Inline Citation -- ( The Baltimore-Washington
Maglev Project., 2003)

The Maglev America Project – Our Highways to the Future. Retrieved 05/09/2011,
frohttp://www.magneticglide.com/pdf/MaglevAmericaProject.pdf
 Inline Citation -- ( The Maglev America Project – Our Highways to the Future., n.d.)
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Train vs Plane vs Car. (2007). Retrieved 05/09/2011, from http://donsnotes.com/travel/train-
plane- car.html Inline Citation -- ( Train vs Plane vs Car., 2007)

Tsuruoka , D.G. (02/08/2011). Critic Says Obama’s Plan For High-Speed Rail Ignores Maglev
Tech. Retrieved 05/08/2011, from http://blogs.investors.com/click/index.php/home/60-
tech/2265- critic-says-obamas-plan-for-high-speed-rail-ignores-maglev-tech
Inline Citation -- (Tsuruoka , 02/08/2011)

Werner, E.W., & Hennessey, K.H. (2008). 300-mph train would whisk travelers from Vegas to
Disneyland. Retrieved 05/09/2011, from http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2008-02-
25-vegas-disneyland-train_N.htm Inline Citation -- (Werner & Hennessey, 2008)
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Glossary

Greenhouse effect- The trapping of the sun's warmth in a planet's lower atmosphere due to the greater
transparency of the atmosphere to visible radiation from the sun than to infrared radiation emitted from
the planet's surface.

Greenhouse gases-A gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation, e.g.
carbon dioxide.

Guide-way-A groove or track along which something moves.

Maglev trains-Maglev, or magnetic levitation, is a system of transportation that suspends, guides and
propels vehicles, predominantly trains, using magnetic levitation from a very large number of magnets
for lift and propulsion.

Megajoules-The unit of energy is the joule (J). It is defined as the work done, or energy expended, by a
force of one newton moving one metre in the direction of the force. When we consider power
generation, we use larger units. A megajoule is 1,000,000 joules.

MPH-miles per hour: the ratio of the distance traveled (in miles) to the time spent traveling (in hours);
miles per hour: a speedometer reading for the momentary rate of travel
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