MLX01 maglev train at Yamanashi test track

JR-Maglev is a magnetic levitation train system developed by the Central Japan Railway Company and Railway Technical Research Institute (association of Japan Railways Group). JR-Maglev MLX01 (X means experimental) is one of the latest designs of a series of Maglev trains in development in Japan since the 1970s. It is composed of a maximum 5 cars to run on the Yamanashi Maglev Test Line. On December 2, 2003, a three-car train set attained a maximum speed of 581 km/h (361 mph) (world speed record for railed vehicles) in a manned vehicle run.^[1]

[edit] Fundamental technology elements

Levitation System	Guide System
Drive System

See also: technology in the magnetic levitation train article.

Magnetic levitation trains make use of a levitation system, a guide system, and a driving system.

[edit] Levitation

The JR-Maglev levitation train uses an Electro-dynamic Suspension (EDS) system. Moving magnetic fields create a reactive force in a conductor because of the magnetic field induction effect. This force holds up the train. The maglev-trains have superconducting magnetic coils, and the guide ways contain levitation coils.

When the trains run at high speed, levitation coils on the guide way produce reactive forces in response to the approach of the superconducting magnetic coils onboard the trains.

EDS has the advantage of larger gaps than EMS, but EDS needs support wheels which are employed in low speed running, because EDS can't produce a large levitation force at low(er) speeds (150km/h or less in JR-Maglev). However, once the train reaches a certain speed, the wheels will actually retract so that the train is floating.

[edit] Guide

Levitation coils which are located on the guide way generate guiding and stabilizing forces also.

[edit] Driving

JR-Maglev is driven by a Linear Synchronous Motor (LSM) System. This system is needed to supply power to the coils at the guide way.

[edit] Yamanashi Test Track

MLX01 maglev train at Yamanashi test track

Yamanashi Experiment Lines are facilities that currently have a practical use. It includes about 18.4 km of track (including 16.0 km of tunnels).

[edit] History

• 1962 – Initial technology research was started.
• 1977 – The experiment run was started at Miyazaki tracks.
• 1997 – The experiment run was started at Yamanashi tracks (MLX01) on April.
• 2004 – Number of passengers for Maglev trial ride exceeded 80,000 people. Test of two trains passing each other at a maximum relative speed of 1,026 km/h.
• 2005 - Crown Prince Naruhito experienced Maglev trial ride.

[edit] Vehicles

ML100 from 1972 on display in Kokubunji, Tokyo.

ML500 1979 world speed record holder of 517 km/h on display in Nationall Transportation Museum in Osaka, Japan.

• 1972 – LSM200
• 1972 – ML100
• 1975 – ML100A
• 1977 – ML-500
• 1979 – ML-500R
• 1980 – MLU001
• 1987 – MLU002
• 1993 – MLU002N
• 1996 – MLX01
• 2002 – MLX01-901

[edit] Manned record

[edit] Unmanned record

[edit] Relative passing speed between two trains

[edit] See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: JR-Maglev

• Aérotrain
• Chūō Shinkansen
• High-speed rail
• Land speed record for railed vehicles
• Magnetic levitation train
• Shinkansen
• Transrapid

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Railway Technical Research Institute (RTRI)
• RTRI Maglev Systems Development Department
• Central Japan Railway Company
• Central Japan Railway Company - Linear Express
• Linear Chuo Express (in Japanese)
• Linear Chuo Shinkansen Project
• Other Japanese Maglev Links

Coordinates: 35°35′N 138°56′E / 35.583, 138.933