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   Swissmetro  evaluated  
Swissmetro is an innovative magnetic transportation concept of high speed trains running inside partially evacuated underground tubes with speeds between 300 and 500 kilometres per hour. Some experts see Swissmetro as a promising alternative to both air and ground high-speed transportation.
Technology field: Non-conventional trains (Maglev etc.)
close main section General information
  open sub-section Description
close main section General criteria
  open sub-section Status of development: research & experiments
  Time horizon for broad application: in > 10 years
  Expected technological development: highly dynamic
  Benefits (other than environmental): big
  Barriers: high
  Applicability for railway segments: medium
    Type of traction:  not applicable
    Type of transportation:  passenger - high speed
    Grade of diffusion into railway markets:
  Diffusion into relevant segment of fleet: 0 %
  Share of newly purchased stock: 0 %
  Market potential (railways): highly uncertain
close main section Environmental criteria
  open sub-section Impacts on energy efficiency:
  Energy efficiency potential for single vehicle: (no data)
  Energy efficiency potential throughout fleet: (no data)
  Other environmental impacts: ambivalent
close main section Economic criteria
  open sub-section Vehicle - fix costs: high
  Vehicle - running costs: (no data)
  Infrastructure - fix costs: high
  Infrastructure - running costs: (no data)
  Scale effects: (no data)
  Amortisation: (no data)
no data available Application outside railway sector (this technology is railway specific)
close main section Overall rating
  open sub-section Overall potential: interesting
  Time horizon: long-term
References / Links:  Ernst et al. 2000;  www.swissmetro.com
Attachments:
Related projects:
Contact persons:
 date created: 2002-10-09
 
© UIC - International Union of Railways 2003