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Hover train

 Run as a hovercraft, stabalized with magnets
  (+4, -5)
(+4, -5) 		  [vote for,
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If trains were powered like hovercrafts yet stabalized by magnetic fields. This would be a tad more expensive to run, but would be far safer.
—gizmo, May 05 2002

hover tracks: Aeroduct(tm) http://www.aeromobile.com/aeroduct1.htm
I'm not sure about safer, but cheaper and faster... take a look. [pashute, Jun 29 2002, last modified Oct 21 2004]

Wikipedia Maglev trains http://en.wikipedia...ic_levitation_train
Magnetically levitated trains [apocalyps956, Oct 23 2006]

[link]






       How would it be safer? Explain.
—[ sctld ], May 05 2002
   

       The air would blow the leaves of the tracks?
—arora, May 05 2002
   

       No! You can't do that! Leaves are sacred to people in the railways sector! Why else would they refuse to drive over the top of them?
—[ sctld ], May 05 2002
   

       ..... into a secure holding place for them to be examined, not to harm them. Phew (I think I got away with it)
—arora, May 05 2002
   

       Wow... think of the fan power it would take to lift a train...
—RayfordSteele, May 06 2002
   

       Yeah giz, far safer than what? What's accomplished here that isn't already covered by maglev?
—waugsqueke, May 06 2002
   

       I guess it would stop derailments due to damaged tracks. But hovercraft go so much slower than trains, and are much less efficient for land travel.
—pottedstu, May 06 2002
   

       Rails provide transport with very low friction for no energy costs (other than to move forwards, which you still need to do with a hovercraft). Maglev I imagine uses electricity for electromagnets to reduce friction, but that'll still be more efficient than air cushions. Otherwise we'd all be driving hovercrafts to work.
—pottedstu, May 06 2002
   

       Recently designed Maglev trains all tried to make use of aerodynamic shape to add stablity to the train. I wouldn't be surprised if later they will add some turbines on the train to decrease drag or increase stablity. After all, the whole point of MagLev train is that nothing touches the ground. The control either have to be designed into the track or the trains has to have some air moving equipment to provide stablizing force.
—bing, May 06 2002
   

       where have you been pottedstu?
—gizmo, May 06 2002
   

       They already have hoover trains in France, although it turned out not to work as effeciently as they thought but it sure is fast. I think Japan is also considering to build one.
—wood2coal, May 06 2002
   

       A "hoover train" might develop a lot of friction as it's being sucked towards the ground.
—FarmerJohn, May 07 2002
   

       but will leave a nice clean leafless track.
—pashute, Oct 23 2006
   

       Already baked
—apocalyps956, Oct 23 2006
   

       [apocalypse], I'm absolutely certain that it's not the maglev that is the focus of this idea, but rather the combination of maglev and hovercraft.
—david_scothern, Oct 24 2006
   

       How about Hover Soul Train. The dance floor is much like the surface of an air hockey table and everybody wears flat plastic shoes. Just think of the fun.
—Chefboyrbored, Oct 24 2006
   
      
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