Японская система магнитной левитации SCMaglev

Japanese maglev system

The SCMaglev (superconducting maglev, formerly called the MLU) is a magnetic levitation (maglev) railway system developed by Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) and the Railway Technical Research Institute. The SCMaglev uses an electrodynamic suspension (EDS) system for levitation, guidance, and propulsion. In development since the 1960s, the SCMaglev system will be used in the Chūō Shinkansen rail line between Tokyo and Nagoya, Japan. The line, currently under construction, is scheduled to open in 2027. JR Central is also seeking to sell or license the technology to foreign rail companies. The L0 Series, a prototype vehicle based on SCMaglev technology, holds the record for fastest crewed rail vehicle with a record speed of .

The SCMaglev system uses an electrodynamic suspension (EDS) system. The train's bogies have superconducting magnets installed, and the guideways contain two sets of metal coils. The current levitation system uses a series of coils wound into a "figure 8" along both walls of the guideway. These coils are cross connected underneath the track. Shortly after Brookhaven National Laboratory patented superconducting magnetic levitation technology in the United States in 1969, JNR announced development of its own superconducting maglev (SCMaglev) system. The railway made its first successful SCMaglev run on a short track at its Railway Technical Research Institute in 1972. JR Central plans on exporting the technology, pitching it to potential buyers.

In 1977, SCMaglev testing moved to a new 7 km test track in Hyūga, Miyazaki. By 1980, the track was modified from a "reverse T" shape to the "U" shape used today. In April 1987, JNR was privatized, and Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) took over SCMaglev development. In 1989, JR Central decided to build a better testing facility with tunnels, steeper gradients, and curves.

In 2009, Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism decided that the SCMaglev system was ready for commercial operation. In 2011, the ministry gave JR Central permission to operate the SCMaglev system on their planned Chūō Shinkansen linking Tokyo and Nagoya by 2027, and to Osaka by 2037. Construction is currently underway.

Since 2010, JR Central has promoted the SCMaglev system in international markets, particularly the Northeast Corridor of the United States, as the Northeast Maglev. In 2016, the Federal Railroad Administration awarded $27.8 million to the Maryland Department of Transportation to prepare preliminary engineering and NEPA analysis for an SCMaglev train between Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington, D. C.

In late 2015, JR Central, Mitsui, and General Electric in Australia formed a joint venture named Consolidated Land and Rail Australia to provide a commercial funding model using private investors that could build the SC Maglev (linking Sydney, Canberra, and Melbourne), create eight new self sustaining inland cities linked to the high speed connection, and contribute to the community.

Speed [km/h (mph)] Train Type Location Date Comments ML100 Maglev RTRI of JNR 1972 MLU001 Maglev Miyazaki Maglev Test Track February 1987 Two car train set. Former world speed record for maglev trains. MLU002 Maglev Miyazaki Maglev Test Track November 1989 Single car MLU002N Maglev Miyazaki Maglev Test Track February 1995 Single car MLX01 Maglev Yamanashi Maglev Test Line, Japan 12 December 1997 Three car train set. Former world speed record for maglev trains. MLX01 Maglev Yamanashi Maglev Test Line 14 April 1999 Five car train set. Former world speed record for maglev trains. MLX01 Maglev Yamanashi Maglev Test Line 2 December 2003 Three car train set. Former world speed record for all trains. L0 series Maglev Yamanashi Maglev Test Line 16 April 2015 Seven car train set. Former world speed record for all trains. L0 series Maglev Yamanashi Maglev Test Line 21 April 2015 Seven car train set. Current world speed record for all trains.