NEW DELHI: Aiming to increase speed, railway is exploring possibility of running Maglev (magnetic levitation) trains at 500 kmph which will is expected to considerably reduce the travel time.
Railway Board has floated expression of interest for introduction of Maglev, a second generation high speed train running in China, Japan, Germany and South Korea, in the country.
Railway Member (Rolling Stock) Hemant Kumar said that three companies - two from US and one from Japan – have so far shown interest and the last date for submitting the bids is September 6.
He said that route of Maglev train has not been decided but a 15 km track will be constructed for trials. According to a rough estimate, it will cost about Rs 150 crore for constructing one km of elevated high speed track for Maglev train.
"Besides transporting passengers, such trains can also be utilised for faster movement of goods," Kumar said.
These high speed trains float above the track by about 1 inch to 6 inches on a cushion of magnetic power and the track magnets are controlled by computers which keep shifting forward the magnetic force of the track magnets so that the Maglev train is pulled forward. Railway plans to set up a separate body on joint venture model for its coaches, track, propulsion, acces control system.