China’s High-Speed Train Crash
The recent high-speed train crash near Wenzhou, China was, unfortunately, inevitable. America needs to reconsider its present fast train course and take a hard look at why it happened and how it could have been prevented. To dramatically improve safety while increasing speed, American policy makers should push for maglev technology and abandon their pursuit . . . → Read More: China’s High-Speed Train Crash
Why An Engineer Should Lead The U.S. DOT
On April 6, 2011, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, issued an official statement on High-Speed Rail.
April 6, 2011
Today, U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, issued a statement regarding the $2.4 billion available for high-speed rail (http://www.dot.gov/affairs/2011/dot4411.html). After reading this statement from the Secretary, NAMTI is compelled to immediately respond with a . . . → Read More: Why An Engineer Should Lead The U.S. DOT
Florida Rejects Fed Money Train
On February 15th, the newly elected Republican governor of Florida, Rick Scott, turned down $2.3 billion in federal funding for the construction of a “high speed rail line’ between Tampa and Orlando. Here is some perspective on why the U.S. DOT is having such a tough time giving away billions of dollars to some states . . . → Read More: Florida Rejects Fed Money Train
Breaking The Maglev Barrier
January 26, 2011
Ross Ruthenberg, a retired Motorola scientist, offers his take on the resistance to accepting new game-changing transportation technologies.
I think one of the biggest barriers to Maglev implementation is the inability of our country to deal with the new infrastructure required e.g. land, right-of-way (ROW), and guide-way construction. This inability is epitomized by HSR proponents . . . → Read More: Breaking The Maglev Barrier
Politics Block Maglev
January 24, 2011
Dr. John Harding, the last chief maglev scientist for the U.S. government, speaks out on the fast HMR vs. HSM “debate.”
Considering what is now known about the status of maglev technology-proven performance (higher speed, steeper grades, whisper quiet at low speed, low maintenance, reliability) and capital cost, can anyone conceive that if it were a . . . → Read More: Politics Block Maglev
U.S. DOT’s HSR Policy: A Slow Train Wreck
January 22, 2011
On January 12th, a Washington Post editorial was critical of the U.S. DOT’s approach to deploying fast trains in America, specifically in California. Secretary Ray LaHood responded in a letter to the editor citing the usual list of high-speed rail (HSR) platitudes about environmental advantages and green jobs creation and accused the . . . → Read More: U.S. DOT’s HSR Policy: A Slow Train Wreck
Rail Reality Check For America – From China
December 1, 2010
Chinese Leaders Are Spending $888 Billion To Quickly Build A National Fast HMR Network… And Their People Will Have To Live With Those Decisions For A Long Time. American Leadership Has An Excellent Chance To Learn What Is Right And Wrong About The Chinese Approach.
I just returned from China . . . → Read More: Rail Reality Check For America – From China
Mr. Kasai Goes To Washington
August 1, 2009
Why The Central Japan Railway Is Deploying Its Superconductor Repulsion Maglev Technology For Its New Tokyo-Nagoya Shinkansen Line… And Not Their Latest Nozumi 700 Series Train:
On Monday, June 29th, the Chairman of the Central Japan Railway (CJR), Mr. Yoshiyuki Kasai, addressed a gathering of transportation officials in Washington, DC to extol the virtues . . . → Read More: Mr. Kasai Goes To Washington
Where Is America’s Vision?
June 18, 2009
Why Is America Adopting 40-Year Old Rail Technology Rather Than Advanced Maglev Systems For Its First HSR Projects?
When the price of car and jet fuel hit unimaginable levels, how are people going to get to Las Vegas? Sig Rogich and his DesertXpress proponents think people in Los Angeles are going . . . → Read More: Where Is America’s Vision?
German TVE: Proving A Track Record
March 1, 2009
The German Maglev Test Track Facility (TVE) First Opened In 1984. Keeping It Operating As A Research & Development Center Will Help Maglev Deployments In Other Countries…
The TVE, The Emsland Test Facility, or The German Maglev Track, it is still the Transrapid test facility only by another name. And, after more than 25 . . . → Read More: German TVE: Proving A Track Record
Demand For Maglev In America
January 3, 2009
The American People Want Advanced High-Speed Maglev Systems For Intercity Transport. So, Why Does The Government Deliver Lame Excuses And 40-Year Old Train Technology Instead? This piece first appeared in ENR magazine in March 2009.
After attending the bi-annual International Maglev Conference in San Diego, California, I returned to Washington, DC armed with . . . → Read More: Demand For Maglev In America
TGV’s 357Mph Demo Proves HSM’s Superiority
May 1, 2007
TGV’s Speed Record Proves There Is A Costly Speed/Maintenance Penalty For High Maintenance Rail And The Need For Heightened HMR Safety Standards As Speeds Increase
Tuesday, April 3, 2007, was a big day for TGV and the French. Congratulations are in order for what has never been done before with . . . → Read More: TGV’s 357Mph Demo Proves HSM’s Superiority
Putting Heat On The ICE “Wrong Way” Report
January 7, 2007
How The British Civil Engineering Society Missed The Maglev… And The Whole Point Of Sustainable, Reliable And Low-Maintenance Transport Between Cities
On November 30th, Great Britain’s Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) released “Which Way?”, a report recommending that conventional high-speed rail technology be used to build an intercity rail link, rather than selecting . . . → Read More: Putting Heat On The ICE “Wrong Way” Report
America’s Energy Denial
February 1, 2006
This Editorial Was Written Fully Two Years Before Oil Prices Hit $147 Per Barrel…
With oil prices still high, you would think President Bush would encourage conservation in his latest speech to the nation. For when energy prices rise, so do the costs of everything else, leaving less money for consumer discretionary spending and . . . → Read More: America’s Energy Denial
Peddling Power To The People
January 1, 2006
This Editorial Is Not About Maglev. However, It Is About Transportation And Creative Problem Solving…
Seldom, if ever, have I been moved by an official Washington “event.” The exception came during last year’s twentieth anniversary reception dinner for the Institute for Transportation & Development Policy (ITDP) on the Friday night before the . . . → Read More: Peddling Power To The People
Railroading The Truth
December 1, 2005
Faith Based Transportation Policy Based On Erroneous Facts Will Not Get America Where It Needs To Go In The 21st Century If It Wants To Be Competitive In A Global Economy…
On November 17th in New York, the U.S. secretary of transportation said in a speech that the decision by the four Bush-appointed Amtrak . . . → Read More: Railroading The Truth
Maglev To Dulles Airport
April 26, 2004
What Is Fast, Efficient, Cost-Effective And Not Under Consideration In Washington DC? Read on…
No, transit projects don’t come cheap, but proposals such as the Washington, DC area’s dual track 22-mile extension of existing Metro technology, with stations, is not a value at more than $4 billion; especially, when one considers that a non-rush hour . . . → Read More: Maglev To Dulles Airport