China the Beautiful

chinapage · Last edited by chinapage on Wed Sep 27, 2006 6:07 pm; edited 1 time in total

One Person Dead, 10 Missing in German Train Crash (Update3)

Sept. 22 (Bloomberg) -- One person died and ten people are missing, feared dead, after a Transrapid high-speed magnetic- levitation train crashed today on a test track in northwest Germany, a local-government official said.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601100&sid=ap3Io_HRmKzU&refer=germany

For a photo of this train, see http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2006-09/22/content_695183.htm

This is the same mag lev train which runs from Central Shanghai to the
Pudong Airport. More details at
http://www.chinapage.com/road/maglev/maglev.html

chinapage · Posted: Fri Sep 22, 2006 12:00 pm Post subject: Many dead

Later report says many may have died. May be as many 30.

For more photos, see http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/0,5538,PB64-SUQ9MTYzNTgmbnI9MQ_3_3,00.html

chinapage · Posted: Fri Sep 22, 2006 12:12 pm Post subject:

For a video report by Spiegel, see

http://www.spiegel.de/videoplayer/0,6298,13320,00.html

This is in German.

Aolung · Joined: 10 Jul 2002 Posts: 1037

Dear Ming,

you're correct: about 24(?) persons died. There had been an obstacle (service wagon?) on the trail. As for me, I didn't want to watch THAT on TV.

Alfred

chinapage · Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2006 11:09 am Post subject:

The fatal accident of maglev train in Germany is a big blow
to the German company that builds the trains.

It was only a short time ago that the Shanghai maglev train
caught fire and was put off commisions.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/jjzg/2006-08/16/content_666367.htm

In that case, it took many days before the train service was
restored.

htttp://www.chinapage.com/road/maglev/maglev.html

chinapage · Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 6:12 pm Post subject:

Here are some newer photos from Spiegel.de

http://www.spiegel.de/img/0,1020,706327,00.jpg
http://www.spiegel.de/img/0,1020,706330,00.jpg
http://www.spiegel.de/img/0,1020,706333,00.jpg
http://www.spiegel.de/img/0,1020,706410,00.jpg
http://www.spiegel.de/img/0,1020,706339,00.jpg

The severity of the impact is unblievably strong.

The Mayor of Munich is now opposed to building magleve train to
its airport.

Munich mayor Ude opposes Transrapid 'maglev' train on safety, cost grounds

http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2006/09/26/afx3044885.html

chinapage · Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2006 7:17 pm Post subject:

In one news report:

The 60-ton vehicle is not magnet powered, but has a diesel engine and runs on rubber wheels on the maglev's guide rails.

This may be true, as I see the huge rubber wheels in the wreakage.

If this is true, then the accident is not due to anything with magnetic
levetation at all. Just ordinary diesel engine locomove improperly
operated.

Since the drivers are alive, we may soon have more information.

Aolung · Joined: 10 Jul 2002 Posts: 1037

chinapage · Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2006 2:52 pm Post subject:

The MagLev train in Shanghai has GPS installed on their
service vehicles, so that the trains cannot operate if
the service vehicles are on the track.

They have just reduced the one-way fare to RMB$40, and
allow people to swipe their public transport fare cards to
pay for maglev fare also.

http://society.people.com.cn/GB/41158/4882692.html