Magnetic trains are also called Maglev train which means magnetic levitation train. These trains have turned into reality and they are up and running in some parts of the world. Maglev trains run on magnets and electrical forces. They don’t need wheels, no engines. The railways tracks are replaced by magnetic guideway. These trains run on magnets so there is absolutely no friction which help them go fast ,and without friction they could reach the speeds up to 581 kilometers per hour (361 mph) which is superfast. But even thought at such high speed you won’t be able to feel a simple jerk (sudden quick thrust) even when the train stops.
How does it work?
Magnetic trains need two important things to work which are: Propulsion and suspension.
Propulsion
These are magnetic trains so they need Electromagnetic Propulsion. In magnets like ends repel each other and opposite poles attract each other, basically this is the simple principle behind electromagnetic propulsion. Electromagnets when charged with electricity (depends on the charge) it attracts metals. But for a train to operate it needs three major components : a powerful electrical power source, large powerful magnets attached under the trains and a guideway track lined with metal coils. The coil along the track is called the guideway. This coil will repel the large powerful magnets under the train which causes the train to float above the track. This magnetic coils in the guideway generates a constant magnetic waves which propels the train forward when this magnetic waves are generated backward it slows down the train and helps it to stop, technically it is similar to brakes. The advantage for this kind of train is that it floats on a cushion of air, so there is absolutely no friction and without friction it allows the train to reach very high speeds.
Suspension
These are two types of suspension technology:
· Electromagnetic suspension (EMS)
· Electrodynamic suspension (EDS)
Ø Electromagnetic suspension (EMS)
In Electromagnetic suspension (EMS) systems the trains hovers over a steel rail while the electromagnets attached to the train uses the feedback control to maintain the train at a constant distance from the guideway. The advantage of this suspension system is that the train continues to float in the air even when the train is at a stop or at slow speeds unlike EDS which needs a secondary landing gear when the train is at a stop or at slow speeds. The constant distance between the train and the guideway is approximately 15 cm.
Ø Electrodynamic suspension (EDS)
In Electrodynamic suspension (EDS) the guideway and the train exerts a magnetic field on each other which causes the train to levitate because of the strong repulsion force between the magnetic fields. But the disadvantage of this suspension system is that at slow speeds the force of the magnetic field is not large enough that it could support the weight of the train, so they need a secondary equipment like wheels or something else so it could support the weight of the train until the train reaches the high speed again and is able to hover over the guideway.
The Adventages and the Disadvantages
Adventages
Maglev trains runs on magnetic force, since there is no friction the train could reach high speeds but the only drawback is air resistance although it’s not a major issue. Maglev train helps the environment since it runs on magnets so there is no air pollution. Maglev train is the safest way of transportation because there is no chance of accidents since it is automatically controlled. With this high speeds of the Maglev Trains could get passengers from Paris to Rome in just 2 hours. These cities are 1435 Km apart and it takes about 14 hours to reach. Maglev trains guideway requires less land and space than other transportation systems.
Disadvantages
The Maglev train generates noise which is similar to a jet aircraft but it is more disturbing than the regular trains. The studies have proven that the noise generated by Maglev trains is 5dB more than the regular trains; it is almost about 78% noisier. The powerful magnet on the trains needs a large amount of electricity so the train could levitate. This makes the Maglev trains very costly to build because it needs large magnets and very advanced technology and large amount of electrical power. The cost of building the guideway for these trains is still a major issue because it costs $ 10 million to $ 30 million per mile.
Future development
To take advantage of this maglev train, scientist tried to run this train in a vacuum tube( with the same power on which the maglev trains runs today without a vacuum tube)and there is no air resistance and no friction, these trains could reach the speeds up to 4000-5000 mph (6400-8000 Km/h) which is extremely superfast and with this kind of speed you could take a trip from London to New York in less than an hour. This could be the world fastest way of public transportation. They are planning to make these vacuum tubes under water in oceans so it absolutely air resistant.
