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I was very pleased to read that the Colorado Department of Transportation has funded an investigation by the Rocky Mountain Rail Authority into possible high speed Mag-Lev transport along both I-70 and I-25.
Having studied Mag-Lev transport while I worked for my degree in electrical engineering at the University of Colorado, I know that Mag-Lev would be a phenomenal step forward for our transportation system. I personally experienced how amazing first generation systems like the one in operation in Shanghai, China, are as they speed passengers along at around 250 mph with extremely high energy efficiency.
The first-generation systems proved prohibitively expensive to install. The second-generation systems now being proven aren’t nearly as expensive to deploy. The most impressive systems, in my opinion, are offered by Maglev 2000 of Florida Corporation. These systems cost approximately $10 million per two-way mile and are capable of safely carrying passengers, cars and large trucks at high speeds between numerous different stops without interruption.
Mag-Lev pods carrying passengers, cars and freight trucks can enter and exit the track without slowing any pods moving in the track. At $10 million a mile these systems are feasible compared to traditional four-lane highway installation.
A traditional highway costs around $2 million per mile initially and then must be replaced repeatedly and expanded. Mag-Lev is far more energy- and time-efficient than our highways are and doesn’t wear out structurally for well over 50 years. Plus, Mag-Lev can be integrated supplementary to our existing highways. The tracks are capable of carrying far more traffic than a four-lane highway without ever having a single traffic-related accident or death.
How does pulling your car or big rig into a Mag-Lev pod for a quick one-hour trip to Denver or 30-minute trip to go skiing sound? Sounds good to me.
DAVID L. COX
Grand Junction
One Response to “Mag-Lev trains are the way to go”
Posted December 25th, 2008 at 4:03 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
Mr. Cox’s letter is fascinating as, for a very long time, I have wondered why we have not yet installed high speed transport such as Mag-Lev from coast to coast. It certainly would do away with most of the problems encountered with airlines and other forms of transportation. Think about it. From here to the East Coast, at 250 miles an hour, it would be possible to make that trim in about 8 hours (assuming about 2000 Miles). One could also have Mag-Lev connections and spokes, going north to south.
I doubt that such will be allowed to happen, and for several purposes. The first is that it would not be to the “benefit” of current transport interests such as oil companies, car companies, airlines, buses, etc. The second reason is that so many cannot tell the difference between spending and investing. Third is that, for many, if they would not personally use it (not for me), they see no use in making such an investment.
Think about it though. What a project it would be, and what a valuable part of our infrastructure it would become. Alas, with all of the nay-sayers, it is not about to happen.
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