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Freight Maglev Development Coming on the Agenda
1 December 2016
EIRNS—The Swiss government has okayed a feasibility study for a testing track for the "Cargo sous terrain" concept of a tunnel freight-transport system based on the maglev principle. The first section of the tunnel system, which is to relieve the country’s highways of 10% of freight, will cover 67 km from the important logistics hub at Härtingen to Zürich. Construction of this section would cost SFr3 billion of the entire system’s SFr33 billion cost.
In a related development, the maglev group Swiss Rapide is involved in a feasibility study for an "Evacuated Tube Transport" system projected in India, along with the development of a grid for maglev passenger transport. The state-owned Indian railway company has commissioned the study, which will be carried out by the Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) within the next six months. An Indian industrial corporation, Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd, has signalled interest in the maglev plans as well. Rainer Apel |
