Magnetic train crashes in Germany

 

The train is capable of speeds of up to 400km/h (249mph)

 

An elevated magnetic train has crashed on a test track in north-western Germany, killing several people. The train, which floats on a monorail via a magnetic levitation system called Maglev, was going at 200km/h (120 mph) when it crashed, a local official said.

Some carriages were left balancing on a section of track about five metres (16.5ft) in the air after the accident near the town of Lathen.

The driverless train hit a maintenance vehicle on the track, officials said.

"There are some fatalities - we don't know how many yet," said Dieter Sturm, a spokesman for the local administrative district of Emsland.

More than 20 people were injured, police said. The train was carrying at least 30 people at the time.

The accident happened at about 1000 local time (0800 GMT), a local police spokesman said.

The test track from Lathen to Doerpen is 31.8km (20 miles) long and tourists regularly go on trips along it.

The Transrapid system, run by Siemens, is capable of speeds of up to 400km/h.

Fire engines are now at the scene and ladders are being used to reach the damaged coaches. Some debris fell from the train to the ground.

The only commercial example of a Transrapid system in operation is the high-speed shuttle to China's Shanghai airport from the city centre.

It was developed by Transrapid International, a joint venture between Siemens AG and ThyssenKrupp.

German Transport Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee, who is in China, has cancelled his trip and is now on his way back to Germany.

In August, a fire broke out on a Transrapid train in Shanghai, adding to concerns about the safety of the technology. The German companies are keen to make Transrapid an export hit and negotiations are under way about building another link in China, and also in Munich, the BBC's Tristana Moore reports from Berlin.

MAGLEV TRAINS

 

Maglev stands for Magnetic Levitation

Top speed (with passengers) - 450km/h (280mph)

Developed by Transrapid Int in Germany

Operating commercially in Shanghai

Test facility in Emsland, northern Germany, is longest of its kind at 31.8km (20 miles)

 

Source: Transrapid International

 

HOW MAGLEV TRAINS WORK

Opposite poles on magnets keep train above track

Train is propelled by electro-magnetic system in the sides of the "guideway" instead of onboard engine

Top speed (with passengers) - 450km/h (280mph)

Developed by Transrapid Int in Germany

Operating commercially in Shanghai

Test facility in Emsland, northern Germany, is longest of its kind at 31.5km (19.5 miles)

 

Source: Transrapid International

Oh what?

 

I haven't heard of that yet....that's sad...:sad:

German monorail accident kills 15

 

Rescuers had to use ladders and cranes to reach the train

 

At least 15 people died when an elevated magnetic train crashed on a test track in north-western Germany. Prosecutor Alexander Retemeyer said 15 bodies had been recovered from the wreckage. Another 10 people were injured, officials said.

The train, which floats on a monorail via a magnetic levitation system called maglev, was going at nearly 200km/h (120 mph) when it crashed near Lathen.

The driverless train hit a maintenance vehicle on the track, officials said.

Some carriages were left balancing on a section of track about 5m (16.5ft) in the air after the accident.

The train was carrying 29 people at the time.

How Maglev trains work

 

 

Footage of a Maglev

 

The accident happened at about 1000 (0800 GMT).

The test track from Lathen to Doerpen is 31.8km (20 miles) long and tourists regularly go on trips along it.

The Transrapid system, run by Siemens, is capable of speeds of up to 450km/h (280mph).

Fire engines are now at the scene and ladders are being used to reach the damaged coaches. Some debris fell from the train to the ground.

The only commercial example of a Transrapid system in operation is the high-speed shuttle to China's Shanghai airport from the city centre.

It was developed by Transrapid International, a joint venture between Siemens AG and ThyssenKrupp.

German Transport Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee, who is in China, has cancelled his trip and is now on his way back to Germany.

In August, a fire broke out on a Transrapid train in Shanghai, adding to concerns about the safety of the technology.

The German companies are keen to make Transrapid an export hit and negotiations are under way about building another link in China, and also in Munich, the BBC's Tristana Moore reports from Berlin.

That's really a tragedy and I was shocked when I heard of the accident on the radio for the first time.

 

It's not far away from Bremen and I sat in exactly the same train one year ago. I always thought it would be safe and it was a nice experiment to drive with over 400kmh through the landscape. They wanted to build a magnetic train line from Amsterdam over Groningen and Oldenburg to Hamburg, from Hamburg to Berlin and finally from Munich city to Munich airport.

That's really a tragedy and I was shocked when I heard of the accident on the radio for the first time.

 

It's not far away from Bremen and I sat in exactly the same train one year ago. I always thought it would be safe and it was a nice experiment to drive with over 400kmh through the landscape. They wanted to build a magnetic train line from Amsterdam over Groningen and Oldenburg to Hamburg, from Hamburg to Berlin and fnally from Munich city to Munich airport.

 

I have a feeling that will now be put on ice.;)

I have a feeling that will now be put on ice.;)

 

It's already put on ice a few years before yesterday's accident! The main reason is that it's too expensive. That's why Siemens only built up a magnetic train line in Shanghai, China.

 

Yesterday there were so many special news on TV, only about this topic. It's the worst train accident in Germany since the tragedy in Eschede (also near Bremen) in 1998 when an ICE derailed and killed more than 100 people.