Why we don't have them ???

[Limoles]

Japan's Magnetic Levitation Passenger Train Just Broke The World Speed Record

TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese maglev that is the fastest passenger train in the world has broken its own speed record.

Operator JR Central said the train reached 603 kilometers per hour (375 miles per hour) in a test run on Tuesday, surpassing its previous record of 361 mph (581 kph) set in 2003. The train traveled for just over a mile (1.8 kilometers) at a speed exceeding 600 kph (373 mph).

Japan's high-speed rail services are among the most advanced in the world, with hundreds of trains running each day with minimal delays. However, unlike regular shinkansen or "bullet trains" that run on steel rails, magnetic levitation trains hover above rails, suspended by powerful magnets.

The Maglev Test Line, near Mount Fuji about 80 kilometers (50 miles) west of Tokyo, is developing technology for use on a future 410-kilometer (250-mile) link that will reduce travel time between Tokyo and Osaka to just over an hour. The current minimum by bullet train is nearly three hours.

The maglev trains, begun as a project of Japan Airlines and the national railways with government support, have undergone decades of testing. Construction of the Tokyo-Osaka link, which is expected to cost more than 9 trillion yen ($76 billion), began in 2014.

The line, which will mostly run under mountains, is due to begin operations in the late 2020s. A similar system operates in Shanghai, linking its airport in the seaside suburbs of Pudong to the city's subway system.

[F6B1911]

...Why we don't have them??

"Cost Overruns."
Our government has a hard time doing the right thing with the American taxpayers money?

[stroguy]

Unions, government gouging, projected costs well below actual costs, we don't want them, we are a car society, we are hundreds times bigger than Japan.

It will be cheaper to go to Mars, which is probably going to bankrupt us. Back in the 50's and 60's it was exploration. Today it is exploitation of taxpayers.

[MarcPW]

Very simple: when Japan lost the war, USA said: no army. So immagine how much advanced any country who currently spend Billions in Army budget could be... (USA not the only one waisting so much $$$) Japan rebuild itself in just a couple of decades and became a great nation. If you visit you will be amazed at the share size of the cities, the facilities, infrastructures, etc.

[srt8-in-largo]

We'd rather use that technology for theme park rides

Seriously though, I'd be for this. Dallas to New York or Los Angeles in 5 hours.

[stroguy]

Japan actually spends very much on defense. 5 trillion Yen or 40+billion USD.

[seadog]

...Why we don't have them??

"Cost Overruns."
Our government has a hard time doing the right thing with the American taxpayers money?

Our government has a hard time doing the wrong thing with the American taxpayers money and their very efficient at it I might add.