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Why are maglev trains still rare?
(lemmy.ml)
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They're super expensive. Few people are willing to pay the massive amount extra for the slight dectease in travel time. Investors also know that.
Look at HS2 in Britain and how people are against the cost for higher speed options, or California HSR. I'm all for it, it should absolutely be done, but getting taxpayers to see 10 years into the future is difficult.
That's because HS2 is a totally flawed, Ill thought out, over budget and badly managed boondoggle - just like everything in the UK rail system since the Beeching cuts in the 60's. If it was properly run, well thought out - and actually made a significant difference in time (not approximately 15 minutes from Piccadilly to Euston), we'd support it.
I agree with all of that, but the thing is that faster journey times shouldn't be the main selling point of HS2 in the first place; it'll relieve capacity of the groaningly overused West Coast Mainline, allowing more freight and cheaper short journeys.
If it's properly managed.
Which it won't be.