Written evidence from John Killip (HSR
201)
Please can you raise the issue of MAGLEV for
discussion and comment at the Transport Select Committee on the
6 September 2011
My concern is that MAGLEV not been considered when
it is:
(a) for connectivity to the stations on the HS2
proposals it would be half the cost;
(b) it would be much faster 500kmh rather than
360kph, it accelerates and brakes much quicker as the carriages
are much lighter and there is no locomotive;
(c) it is much more flexible and is able to follow
existing transport corridors such as the M62 thus avoiding the
need for the Y route;
(d) It is several orders of magnitude quieter
as there is no contact with the track;
(e) the footprint is much smaller no unsightly
gantries less tunnels;
(f) it would not be affected by weather as there
is no engine to get blocked by the wrong kind of snow and there
would be no problems with leaves or snow on the track;
(g) it uses 21st century technology rather
than old 19th century wheel on rail techology no wear and tear
as no wheels or rails therefore maintenance costs much less;
(h) it is tried and tested technology which has
been running from Shanghai airport to Shanghai for some years;
and
(i) a trial could be built from Edinburgh to
Glasgow now rather than waiting for HS2 in a minimum of 25 years.
Give it some thought it would be far more prestigious
than slow noisy wheel on rail systems.
23 August 2011
Note: I have no connection with Ultraspeed but I
do think they should be allowed to make presentations to the Select
Committee
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