Comments on: Orange County Maglev Trains http://www.lahabra90631.com/city-news/orange-county-maglev-trains.html La Habra City Guide and Community Blog Thu, 23 Oct 2008 03:19:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Larry2372 http://www.lahabra90631.com/city-news/orange-county-maglev-trains.html/comment-page-1#comment-58 Larry2372 Thu, 23 Oct 2008 03:19:17 +0000 http://www.lahabra90631.com/?p=55#comment-58 You ask, "...why are so many people pushing for...train technology for a high speed rail corridor that could eventually run from Sacramento to San Diego" and why "...a lower maintenance technology like Maglev is not the first choice for the state's northern and coastal routes." Good points. The main reasoning I've heard is that maglev technology is not as mature and currently is not in widespread commercial service as high-speed rail is around the world. These are valid points, to be sure, but considering the time that'll be required to construct the California HSR system, it seems to me that one demonstration corridor -- such as the cities along the Orange Line, say -- might be identified to be built with maglev technology as a way of addressing any technical or economic concerns. You ask, “…why are so many people pushing for…train technology for a high speed rail corridor that could eventually run from Sacramento to San Diego” and why “…a lower maintenance technology like Maglev is not the first choice for the state’s northern and coastal routes.” Good points.

The main reasoning I’ve heard is that maglev technology is not as mature and currently is not in widespread commercial service as high-speed rail is around the world. These are valid points, to be sure, but considering the time that’ll be required to construct the California HSR system, it seems to me that one demonstration corridor — such as the cities along the Orange Line, say — might be identified to be built with maglev technology as a way of addressing any technical or economic concerns.

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