How a Maglev train works

A maglev's guideway has a long line of electromagnets. These pull the train from the front and push it from behind. The electromagnets are powered by controlled alternating currents, continually propelling the train forward

Guideway

Train

Support

magnet

Guidance

magnets

Maglev services are planned between Tokyo and Nagoya with a journey time of just 40 minutes

373mph was reached along a test track near Mount Fuji

Tokyo

Nagoya

Osaka

Modern Shinkansen (bullet) trains

run at up to 200mph, covering the

Tokyo to Osaka journey in ...

2 hrs 25 min

By 2045 the planned Chuo Shinkansen

Maglev will cut this journey time to ...

1 hr 7min

A maglev's guideway has a long line of electromagnets. These pull the train from the front and push it from behind. The electromagnets are powered by controlled alternating currents, continually propelling the train forward

373mph was reached along a test track near Mount Fuji

Tokyo

Nagoya

Osaka

Modern Shinkansen (bullet) trains run at up to 200mph, covering the Tokyo to Osaka journey in ...

Maglev services are planned between Tokyo and Nagoya with a journey time of just 40 minutes

Guideway

Train

Support

magnet

Guidance

magnets

1 hr 7min

2 hrs 25 min

By 2045 the planned Chuo

Shinkansen Maglev will cut this

journey time to ...