Electric supply
An electric charge runs
through coils
embedded in the track,
magnetising them.Guideways
The guideways are
generally made of
steel or reinforced
concrete to provide
stability, strength
and longevity.Magnetic coils
As the electricity passes
through each coil, the
polarity changes.Attraction
and repulsion
The train’s magnets are pulled
toward a coil when its pole is
opposite to it and pushed away
when the poles are the same.Propulsion
The pull comes from in
front of the train and push
once it has passed. This
propels the train forward.The main problem w ith maglev
trains is that they are a closed
system. This means they can
only run on a specially designed
rail and no other trains are able
to run on their tracks. It is for
this reason HS2 decided to use
traditional technolog y for their
trains so they could continue to
non-high-speed destinations.
They are also very expensive to
build, the cost of the
30-kilometre (18-mile) Shanghai
Maglev being £720 million ($1.2
billon). Keeping the magnets
cool as well is a costly task,
although it does save energy.Disadvantages
Aerodynamic shape
High-speed trains are designed
with a pointed nose like an
aeroplane to cut through the air.DID YOU KNOW? It is estimated that Shinkansen cut around 400 million hours each year from Japanese travelling times