China has unveiled a magnetically run train that is suspended in the air instead of sitting on tracks. Also, it never touches the rail above it. It floats 30 feet up in the air. The way they’re touting it that it hovers above the magnets and glides from place to place without using electricity. I do want to point out that the magnets need electricity in order to work. The train has a top speed of 75 miles per hour.
They took a test run and did a lot of promoting, but I don’t think they have a passenger version yet.
I just can’t help but keep wondering what happens if the magnets fail, or there’s a blackout and the electricity gets cut to them while it’s running. I’m sure there’s some sort of safety catch, but there’s all that weight, tens of thousands of pounds, 30 feet in the air. Not liking my chances. Although, I love The Patriot roller coaster at World’s of Fun. It’s suspended, but it touches the rails at multiple places. The front seat’s the best. You feel like you’re flying.