1B15 Overview of superconducting maglev and Chuo Shinkansen(Vehicles-System)

抄録

The development of superconducting maglev as an ultra high-speed mass transport system started in 1966 by Japanese National Railways. A lot of studies concerning the superconducting maglev had been conducted through running tests by use of Miyazaki Maglev Test Track. After the start of JR in 1987, the development of superconducting maglev was taken over by Railway Technical Research Institute (RTRI). JR Central soon joined the development because of aiming to put Maglev to practical use. As the next step of the development, the new Maglev test line was constructed in Yamanashi prefecture and we successfully had conducted running tests on the 18.4km-long Yamanashi Maglev Test Line (Priority Section) for 14 years from 1997 to 2011. Two years later we resumed running tests by use of extended 42.8km-long Yamanashi Maglev Test Line and new prototype vehicles for the Chuo Shinkansen line. On the other hand, we also have been making steady progress in procedures for the construction of the Chuo Shinkansen, and we started the construction of the Chuo Shinkansen section between Shinagawa and Nagoya in December of last year. Continuously we will keep trying for completion of the Chuo Shinkansen by the Superconducting Maglev.