{"id":65563,"date":"2014-11-16T16:26:38","date_gmt":"2014-11-16T16:26:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/?p=65563"},"modified":"2014-11-16T16:27:37","modified_gmt":"2014-11-16T16:27:37","slug":"japans-levitating-train-hits-311mph-first-public-tests","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2014\/11\/japans-levitating-train-hits-311mph-first-public-tests\/","title":{"rendered":"Japan\u2019s ‘levitating’ train hits 311mph in first public tests"},"content":{"rendered":"

A select group of passengers experienced\u00a0Japan\u2019s new \u2018floating\u2019 maglev train reaching\u00a0500km\/h (311mp\/h) in its first public test.<\/p>\n

Specially-invited members of the public boarded the new ultra-high speed train for its first trial with passengers in Tsaru, Yamanashi Prefecture.<\/p>\n

And the driverless train, which is due to run between Tokyo and Nagoya when it\u2019s finished, topped out at over 500km\/h \u2013 to the delight of the 100 passengers\u00a0on board.<\/p>\n

<\/a>\"Japan's
A group of 100 members of the public were invited for the test (Picture: BBC)<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Central Japan Railway Company is running eight days of testing for the experimental Shinkansen maglev train.<\/p>\n

Maglev \u2013 short for magnetic levitation \u2013 rely on magnets rather than wheels, axles and bearings to carry vehicles and therefore require less maintenance and are less affected by the weather.<\/p>\n

They are, however, more expensive to build, which has led opponents to accuse them of being white elephants.<\/p>\n

<\/a>\"(Picture:
The trains have been called white elephants by their opponents (Picture: BBC)<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

–<\/p>\n