The Maglev L0 Series Train
There is a new series of trains coming out that do not even touch the tracks. Trains that do not have to worry about friction and are faster because of that. Not only that but they are quieter as to not annoy people who may live close to train tracks. This may sound like a train from a sci-fi film, but it is on planet earth and they are the Maglev trains. One of the fastest ones being the L0 series at a top recorded speed of 375 miles per hour (603 kilometers per hour).
For a background on how this train technology works, the image provides a lot of contexts, however, I will try to explain the best I can. To begin with, the train levitates by having like poles repel each other. If one has ever played with magnets that person might have played with that concept in their own hands. If that person was able to balance the magnets perfectly one on top of the other, they would have achieved a levitating magnet. Expand this concept into a train and now one has a levitating train. While this concept is cool, trains tend to move, therefore the engineers got this concept to move with propulsion. The opposite ends pull the train forward and like poles push it forward as stated in the image. Imagine being pulled by a rope and pushed by a piston in the same direction at the same time. Two forces pushing one object forward.
L0 Series train is a maglev train, so it carries all the advantages maglev trains have. No contact with the rail means no friction, no deterioration from being in contact, less maintenance, and more. One thing unique to the L0 series is it’s really long nose,49 feet, which provides better aerodynamics. The same concept as to why super fast jets or cars have long or at least pointed noses. Compares the aerodynamics of an IndyCar to a cow, one can see why IndyCars are faster than cows (along with many other reasons). Hence, if one priority is speed than one should care about the nose of their vehicle and the L0 series dedicates 49 feet to it.
While the L0 series is an impressive vehicle, Mitsubishi, creators of the L0 series, are working on an improved version of the train. The speed should be around the same, but maybe it might go up by a bit.
With an operational speed of 314 mph, it can provide more resistance against the use of planes. Planes typically have a higher carbon footprint, so if the world keeps on making faster and faster trains, it will make trains more viable in longer distances. People will usually use a plane to get to maybe Los Angeles to Austin Texas, but if there was a train that can get you there in around 3 hours, cheaper, and roomier then maybe the will subconsciously decrease their carbon footprint.
