Gizmodo: bullet train

Statewide California Bullet Train Project Reduces Road Rage and Increases Happiness

Erica Ho — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 23:40:10 EST

Amongst all the election hoopla this past Tuesday, California voters passed a proposition giving the state $10 billion to begin building a high-speed rail between Northern and Southern California. The Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act, or Proposition 1A, opens up a possibility that Californians may see a bullet train traversing between the two regions as early as 2020 among an 800-mile stretch. Hold on, does this train mean I can flee to Disneyland (only the happiest place on earth) away from the bums that accost me in San Francisco more often?!

Cities planned among the route include Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego and central cities such as Fresno and Bakersfield. The trains would use the same technology as found in Europe and Asia, reaching speeds of more than 200 mph. If the project comes to fruition, the state anticipates that the trains could serve more than 115 million riders a year, alleviating traffic gridlock found on most of California's highways. (I-5 and I-10, I'm looking at you.) While some organizations are endorsing the measure calling it a step in the right direction, others disagree saying that it a reckless financial endeavor considering the state's resources. If it is successful, the bullet train would boost the economies of local cities along the route, even if it is unclear how it would affect cities that lie further away from it.

[California High-Speed Rail Authority via Wired]

One-Person Maglev Car, Like Riding a 300MPH Roller Coaster to Work

Mark Wilson — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:40:00 EDT

It sure looks like a roller coaster, but this maglev (magnetic levitation) car is more likely in development for personal transportation. By Tyco and Gakken, the maglev system suspends the car 2-3 centimeters above the track, propelling the rider forward without friction. Since the fastest record for a full-blown maglev train is 361 mph, my guess is that an open cockpit like this one could make for one hell of a bug-faced ride. Maybe that face squeegee startup isn't such a crazy investment after all. [nikkei BP via NewLaunches]

Top Gear Races Nissan GT-R Vs. Bullet Train In Japan

Christopher Mascari — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EDT

The Top Gear crew is in Japan for this week's episode and they've got another heated race for us: A Nissan GT-R R35, a gadget car by dynamic handling and Playstation inspired dashboard vs. a bullet train, running both from Japan's northern Hakui-Shi coast to Tokyo. With no surprise ol' Clarkson is driving the fiery beast while Hammond and May are left traveling Japanese public transportation. I'm not gonna spoil the race for ya though, but Jalopnik has the results for you. [Jalopnik]

JR Central Says World's Fastest Maglev Train Arrives in 2025

Wilson Rothman — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 09:04:29 EST

It may be the world's fastest, a maglev bullet train capable of exceeding 500 kph (310 mph), but it feels like the world's slowest to arrive. JR Central announced today that it would deploy its maglev system in 2025 to carry commuters between Tokyo and central Japan (despite one test of the technology resulting in a crash, and the death of 23 people, last year). The cost will not be minimal either—$44.7 billion—which is why the company's stock fell nearly 9% after it made the announcement. And the Japanese government can't/won't bankroll it. In the meantime, the maglev train in Shanghai may get longer and faster, and proposed projects in Germany and even the US could take off too. [AFP/SMH]

Japan's Type N700 Bullet Train Almost Half as Fast as an Airplane

kevinhall2 — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 10:09:31 EDT

Despite its maiden voyage at 6AM on Sunday, the first public N700 drew quite a crowd. 1300 passengers enjoyed the 342 mile trip to Tokyo from Shin-Osaka Station, and in only two hours and twenty five minutes—five minutes shorter than previous trains. If that doesn't impress you, bear in mind the N700 covers the ground almost half as fast as an airplane. Without limiting its speed, the N700 is capable of 186mph. Come inside for some gallery love. We got a shot of the cockpit!

They sound like quite an experience for train buffs, as the duck-billed bullet train actually leans into turns, tilting the cabin slightly. The N700 trains are scheduled for eight trips a day, with plans to increase that number to thirty by the end of March.

Also, it looks like the two different classes of seating—the luxury green cars and the standard economy cars—will feature free Internet and trays that fold out for a place to work. The green seats keep all of the hookups confined to the armrest, while the cheaper plugs are located in the wall, near the floor.

Update: Since we seem to have quite a few train lovers visiting, bear in mind that the extra five minutes saved is just from Shin-Osaka Station to Tokyo, and that certain routes have areas with speed limits. The N700 isn't always traveling at top speed. Also, the N700 is the first new bullet train in eight years, so there's more than just a faster train to consider. New amenities as well.

Type N700 bullet train goes into service [Japan Times via Tokyo Mango]

Thanks for the links, Vagrant!

Pantech Slim Phone: Maglev Makes It Skinnier But Doesn't Make You Float

www.gizmodo.com — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 09:31:08 EDT

At 9.99mm (0.39 inches), Pantech's new slim phone is the skinniest slide-phone currently on the market, beating Samsung by 3mm. And, in a cellphone first, it's all down to Magnetic Levitation, the same technology that is used by ~~Japan's Bullet Trains~~ some high speed trains. The phone also sports a 1.3-megapixel camera, MP3 player and DMP (terrestrial digital multimedia broadcasting).

Using magnetic forces, Maglev enables one object to be suspended above another object and it is this that makes the phone slide. It's out next month in Korea and costs an obese $527, but expect to see it over here if it does well over there. – Ad Dugdale

Magnetic Levitation Handset to Debut [The Korea Times]

Hell on Wheels: Japanese Bullet Train Billed as World's Fastest

Charlie White — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 11:45:20 EDT

As trains in the United States remain firmly planted in the horse-and-buggy era, the rest of the world leaps ahead, and here's the fastest wheeled train yet, the phallic-looking 224mph Fastech 360Z. The working prototype of the next-generation bullet train was unveiled to the press in Japan by the East Japan Railway. A company spokesman said the six-car land rocket was even capable of traveling at 310mph on a test run.

The company qualifies its "world's fastest" claim with the term "wheeled" because there are maglev trains that are faster, including Central Japan Railway's JR-Maglev MLX01, a prototype that's reached a speed of 361mph.

Japan unveils the fastest train in the world [Physorg.com]