| Rode Maglev two days ago.
Service appears to be operating normally, lots of locals taking photos of themselves under the in carriage speedometers, when it hits the 430kmph mark. Train wasn't full, perhaps 20%. Does seem to have novelty value only really, 7 min trip is great and all that but if you just miss one then it becomes a 27min trip. So lets say on average it takes 17mins from airport. Unfortunately this only gets you to Long Yard, which is a few long yards from town, so if you add a 5 min schlep across the road to the subway and a 5min wait (average) for metro we're looking at 27mins to get on a running train at Long Yard. I seem to recall the sign saying it was 30km so a subway train running at 60 kmph will get you there faster.......... The other big drama is that it stops at 5:30pm, so a retun ticket may not be what you really need (I got caught) I can only presume that the train must dim the surrounding lights too much in the evening, or perhaps the cab drivers union has paid someone. On a more positive note 430kmph is pretty cool, and I'd take it every time, you need to be very quick to see the one going the other way go past.... Ride is very, but not totally smooth, and there is a nice Citroen style moment as the thing powers up then rises up before leaving the station. |
Maglev - A Failure?