With technology improving quickly and on-the-move lifestyles becoming increasingly prevalent in today’s society, it just makes sense that there are plans to make travel between the Northeast’s best cities easier than ever! This proposed maglev train, known as the Northeast Maglev, is expected to offer a travel time from Washington D.C. to NYC in just one hour!
Additional maglev trains for the Northeastern Corridor have been proposed like the Greater Northeastern Corridor route. This fantasy train route would connect cities like New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Detroit, Toronto, Montreal, and Boston. And though the likelihood of it ever being built is slim, let’s take a closer look into a route that’s progress is already underway!
What’s the Northeast Maglev?
The Northeast Maglev is a proposed high-speed train project that would connect several of the biggest cities in America’s Northeast Corridor. Operating with Superconducting Maglev (SCMAGLEV) technology, which is a magnetic levitation transportation system that uses magnetic attractions and repulsions between the track and cars to drive itself forward at high speeds, this would be on par with bullet-train systems already being used in many countries around the globe.
How fast is the Northeast Maglev going to be?
The Northeast Maglev’s cruising speed between cities would clock in at about 311 mph. This advanced technology is what would allow the train to travel faster than 300 mph. The first commercially operational maglev train opened in 1984 in Birmingham, England.
What cities would the Northeast Maglev stop at?
The Northeast Maglev would connect travelers between Washington D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City at record speeds. The ultimate goal is to get a highly accessible high-speed train that would run from D.C. to NYC in under an hour.
How safe are Maglev trains?
Since the train would have its own guideway there would be practically no risk of collision with any other modes of transportation. Derailments would also not be possible as a result of the guideway’s unique U-shaped design.
How does D.C. benefit from the Northeast Maglev?
The Northeast Maglev train route would, according to the developers behind the proposed train, boost the local economy by creating approximately 205,000 jobs in the Northeast region according to the company and improve access to businesses and education across the Northeast Corridor. Additionally, it would make travel between the great cities of the Northeast that much more accessible for so many, which would ultimately reduce stress on airlines leading to fewer daily regional flights, so ultimately this train could have a positive impact on the environment!
What are some concerns regarding the Northeast Maglev’s construction?
Despite Maglec train travel being quite sustainable because it uses magnet-based technology to propel itself forward, rather than other trains that may require significant amounts of electricity or even fossil fuels, there are still some environmental concerns regarding the construction plans for this train. The actual construction of the Northeast Maglev is taking its time because it has to take into consideration the best possible route to construct the train’s path in order to minimize the impact on the local ecosystems when the train path is built.
When would the Northeast Maglev be finished?
The environmental impact study of phase 1 of the project which would connect Washington D.C. and Baltimore with a station at BWI Airport aims to be completed by 2025.
Find out more about the project on their website here