Japan and China are racing to build a new type of ultrafast, levitating train, seeking to demonstrate their mastery over a technology with big export potential.
Magnetic levitation, or maglev, trains use powerful magnets to glide along charged tracks at superfast speeds made possible by the lack of friction. A handful of short distance and experimental maglev trains are already in operation, but Asia¡¯s two biggest economies are vying to develop what would be the world¡¯s first long-distance intercity lines.
On one side is Central Japan Railway Co.¡¯s ?9 trillion ($86 billion) maglev that¡¯s expected to connect Tokyo and Osaka by 2037. On the other is China¡¯s 100 billion yuan ($15 billion) on-again, off-again project that will run between Shanghai and the eastern port city of Ningbo. After several false starts, it¡¯s now forecast to be completed by around 2035. Japan¡¯s is more expensive largely because of the amount of excavation that will be required to tunnel through the mountainous countryside.
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