Anaheim-Vegas maglev train project gets $45 million infusion

It's been a while since we heard anything about the proposed Anaheim-Las Vegas maglev train. As of Friday, the project is moving forward as part of a transportation bill signed by President Bush that puts aside $45 million for the 300 mile-per-hour train. While the project initially called for a $3- to $5 billion budget, this little chunk of money will get things rolling (or, as the case may be, floating). The train is projected to whisk people from Disneyland to Vegas in under two hours. No word on proposed launches or actual construction, but we assume Disney will get involved with some extra cash at this point.

[Via Slashdot]

[phanbouy @ Jun 8th 2008 1:42AM]

fear and loathing goes 21st century

[ben @ Jun 8th 2008 2:13AM]

We can't stop here, this is bat country!

[Brian @ Jun 8th 2008 2:50AM]

2 Hours? At 300mph, it should take well under 1 hr!

[phanbouy @ Jun 8th 2008 2:55AM]

thanks for the reply, Brian

[OziD @ Jun 8th 2008 2:55AM]

ben: good thing because it wasn't an option at 300mph

[OneLove @ Jun 8th 2008 8:31PM]

I would like to see this connect to every city in the US.

[Kique @ Jun 8th 2008 1:45AM]

NICE

[Steve Jones @ Jun 8th 2008 5:16AM]

Indeed, but where I work at Heathrow Airport this would cover about 6 months of on-costs for some largish project and that is it!

Big projects = extortionate!

Not that I complain; i'm more than worth my weight in gold!

[peshue @ Jun 8th 2008 1:48AM]

New public transportation, and trains nonetheless, in the US!? It's about damn time.

[Raiden @ Jun 8th 2008 2:26AM]

this way parents can leave their children at disney land, while finding enough time to send in vegas!!

genius!!

[Russ @ Jun 8th 2008 3:11AM]

public transport from one "entertainment" location to another.. will this actually help anyone to commute to work?

[phanbouy @ Jun 8th 2008 3:16AM]

Russ, strippers/wannabe starlets?

but seriously, anything to get high tech mass transit on the radar over here

[helio9000 @ Jun 8th 2008 12:48PM]

Yeah the government funding public transportation from Disney to Vegas is about par for the course. Meaning that it's laughable.

[John @ Jun 8th 2008 1:02PM]

Three words: Snow White Strippers

[Bobs @ Jun 8th 2008 1:48AM]

What happens if there is a power outage? will the maglev crash? There is probobly some kind of backup generator or battery, but still, ive always wondered what a maglev could do to a lost cow in the desert at full speed

[Juaquin @ Jun 8th 2008 1:53AM]

I believe the train has wheels below for just such a situation, besides when it is in a station (I suppose you could keep floating at a station but why bother).

[Bobs @ Jun 8th 2008 2:06AM]

The more you know!

[ben @ Jun 8th 2008 2:16AM]

I believe there are standard magnets to keep the train from touching the tracks, and it only needs power to move.

[DRoseDARs @ Jun 8th 2008 2:26AM]

This particular project is based on the technology developed by a German company Transrapid. The Chinese have a line running in Shanghai (and have been caught red-handed trying to stealing the technology for their "own" maglev technology). This particular type of maglev can follow existing right-of-ways along highways or railroads on raised pylons a few meters high or at ground level. Cows and other fauna along the route need not fear. Also, if there's power loss, a Transrapid meglev isn't careening anywhere as it partially wraps around the guideway and it flies just a few millimeters above the guideway, so if anything it'll just scrap along the track until it stops. The one collision that has happened occurred because of a communication failure: A maintainance vehicle was still on the test track in Germany when the test train came barreling through.

[Juaquin @ Jun 8th 2008 5:22AM]

@Ben

At first I thought like you did, then checked wikipedia. There aren't currently any trains that are held up by permanent magnets, although research is being done on it. All current trains are held up by electromagnets, so if they lose power, they will not levitate for long. It seems most trains have enough onboard battery to bring the train down to a low speed, from which point it either rolls on wheels or just scraps along the track until it comes to a halt.

[pandaboy99 @ Jun 8th 2008 1:57AM]

3-5 billion dollars... thats like one or two B2 bombers.. thats pennies for the US government... i think one of those B2 bombers just crashed too.... there was ure maglev train ticket right there

[Artie Lange @ Jun 8th 2008 2:02AM]

The cost of a B2 is $1.2 billion, so that's roughly 4 bombers.

National security > fast train to Vegas.

[An_asshole @ Jun 8th 2008 2:04AM]

And why should the rest of the country pay for Los Angelenos to get to Las Vegas faster? Let the people riding the goddamned thing pay for it. Better yet, let the businesses that will be served by it, to wit, the multi-billion dollar gaming industry (and Disney) pay for it. There's a word for this, and it starts with "boon" and ends with "doggle."

[Big Ed @ Jun 8th 2008 2:07AM]

@ Artie

Step forward in clean, efficient transportation > Bombers that would be killing innocent civilians or taking up space on a base somewhere.

[ben @ Jun 8th 2008 2:18AM]

I think B2s are being phased out for UAVs and cruise missles anyways.

[phanbouy @ Jun 8th 2008 2:21AM]

warmongers hate mass transit. who knew?

[Artie Lange @ Jun 8th 2008 2:22AM]

You are obviously unfamiliar with the concept of "deterrence" (hint: its what dominant weapon systems do while they are "taking up space on a base somewhere").

[phanbouy @ Jun 8th 2008 2:26AM]

while our "dominant weapons systems" rot away on bases, the rest of the world moves beyond us economically, diplomatically, and technologically.

ah well, fearmongering "ftw"

[Artie Lange @ Jun 8th 2008 2:36AM]

Nah; as always, its the uninformed, poorly educated, easily swayed keyboard demagogue "ftw".

[DRoseDARs @ Jun 8th 2008 2:39AM]

Several problems in this thread: As pointed out, B2's are on their way out in favor of UAVs and other far cheaper and far safer methods of delivering ordinance. As for the limited scope of the project, California wants it as a proof-of-concept run because the LA-LV connection is one of the busiest routes in the nation. The are plans for a more expansive system connecting all of Southern and Central California to help deal with that state's future mass transit needs. Similar proposals exist for Baltimore-DC, Pittsburg and its eastern suburbs, as well as Atlanta. This isn't an amusement park ride, it's a real attempt at dealing with transportation needs in this country.

[phanbouy @ Jun 8th 2008 2:43AM]

Artie, I suppose your superior "education" about antiquated bombing technology being >> every other possible national or human endeavor somehow indicates I am "easily swayed" (i.e. think for myself)? Huh? you make no sense at all. Too much AM radio is warping your "mind". Who's the demagogue now? Check out the numbers on those other metrics I mentioned then get back to me with your empty war-cheerleading. You must have cried when the cold war ended.

[phanbouy @ Jun 8th 2008 2:46AM]

by the war Artie, I have bachelor and master of science degrees from major research universities. don't talk about what you don't know.

[sheniferous @ Jun 8th 2008 3:02AM]

moisture > b-2 bombers. ;p

i for one, cannot wait for the maglev, if it ever comes. the drive just plain sucks, especially trying to get out there on a friday night after work. it takes about 2 - 3 hours just trying to get out of LA before hitting the (not so) open road to vegas!

[ben @ Jun 8th 2008 3:29AM]

"The 2005 U.S. military budget is almost as much as the rest of the world's defense spending combined and is over eight times larger than the official military budget of China."

Fuckin' bring it on... world.

[kt @ Jun 8th 2008 2:39PM]

@ phanbouy
Wow: bachelors AND a masters. Oh, and by the war. . . I'm a high school graduate as of last June but hey, at least I can freaking spell. At least make sure things are spelled right when you're bragging on yourself.

Anyhow, I think that private companies like Amtrak need to be spending money on this, not the feds. I work to go to school, and the thought that I am working hours of my life to pay the federal government so they can pay not only for a war that I don't support but also for projects that do this Floridian no good makes me sick. Like I said, why don't Amtrak and Union Pacific, who actually would have a stake in this if it worked, put in some dollars to research a clean, cheap alternative to oil?

[Tony @ Jun 8th 2008 5:44PM]

@ An_asshole

Let's not forget that only a handful of states contribute more to the union than they take in through taxes. California one of those states that do actually contribute.

Not to say that's fair either, but what is?

[phanbouy @ Jun 8th 2008 6:11PM]

kt, don't go to college, even if any is deluded enough to let you in somewhere. the degree is spelled MASTER OF SCIENCE, dipshit. have fun serving me french fries.

p.s. it's not bragging when someone first calls you "uneducated", tool.

[pitch @ Jun 8th 2008 6:47PM]

kt@ You realize that Amtrak is funded by the National Government right? Also infrastructure projects cost money and their's no way that they will be sustainable without government money. Airlines received $15 billion from congress after 9/11, Train companies need $100 billion just to improve tracks by 2030 which is when they will reach peak capacity. If we don't spend money on infrastructure projects, we're are just hurt ourselves in the long run. The 3-5 billion this will cost over several years isn't even 1% that the national highway system cost. So think of this way, the government spends 3-5 billion on this or 40 billion on improving freeways, runways, terminals and other projects that will be required if this project isn't constructed. Maybe you should look into the economics of rail transport and notice that it's a lot more efficient than the freeway and wonder why you don't have a high speed rail network in Florida.

[neil @ Jun 8th 2008 2:00AM]

The government just spent close to $300 million just to build a two mile long bridge over six feet of water in my town. How in the hell is this project only going to cost $45 million?

[Johari @ Jun 8th 2008 2:03AM]

The project costs $3-5 billion. The $45 million is only a small part set aside by Bush.

[Raiden @ Jun 8th 2008 2:29AM]

in short, bush doesn't want to support mass transportation... bombers can kill hundreds and thousands of people.. while trains only kill people if they crash...

bombers more fun > trains going chu chu..

but one can still dream of one day traveling on the ground just as fast as in the air..

[Logik @ Jun 8th 2008 11:57AM]

The $45 million is meant to be used for the initial environmental impact studies, and such.

[Justin @ Jun 8th 2008 4:19PM]

The environmental impact statement also covers parts of preliminary engineering. The money buys more than which cacti are going to be bulldozed.

[David @ Nov 8th 2008 6:07PM]

At the top of the page, you shall find an article. Read it.

[SilverGixxer @ Jun 8th 2008 2:02AM]

This could have some promise. I've been one of those lucky guys trying to get to Vegas from L.A. on a friday and had to sit in bumper to bumper traffic for almost 8 hours. If they can make the train ticket more affordable than simply flying Southwest Airlines at roughly $100 each way, then I'm game. I just don't understand why a high speed route like L.A. to San Francisco isn't also on the table.

[Johan S @ Jun 8th 2008 3:01AM]

"I just don't understand why a high speed route like L.A. to San Francisco isn't also on the table."

It is. Vote for the bond measure this November if you're a CA voter in favor.

http://www.californiachronicle.com/articles/64198


The high-speed rail project is a $33 billion program to provide high-speed rail service between Anaheim, Los Angeles and San Francisco. An additional $7 billion will be required to extend service to San Diego and Sacramento. A bond measure will appear on the November ballot authorizing construction of the system.

"The immediate challenge for the Authority is to demonstrate to the voters how the $9.95 billion in bonds on the November ballot can generate the $33 billion necessary to fund the project´s first phase," Senator Lowenthal stated.

[Nick @ Jun 8th 2008 3:43AM]

Holy crap this is awesome. I live in Irvine (right next to anaheim) and I'm going to vegas this weekend for my bday! (flying SWA--i think ~55 each way + taxes, if anyone gives a dump) This would be so tubularly radisweetly sick. I love vegas.

[Jamie @ Jun 8th 2008 9:05AM]

topography and cost. They're going to do a line in pittsburgh where it's far cheaper for land grants while proving an acceptable topographical challenge with all of the hills, valleys, rivers, etc.

[SilverGixxer @ Jun 8th 2008 9:54PM]

Thanks for the info Johan. I had no idea.

[rip @ Jun 9th 2008 12:26AM]

As much as I'd like this to happen and use it, I will probably never use it, as I live over an hour away from Anaheim.

But if it happens, at least it'll reduce the number of cars coming from OC.