When we think of high-speed travel, our brains usually go to airplanes. However, a new emerging technology could revolutionize high speed travel as we know it. Trains, which haven’t been widely used since the Industrial revolution compared to vehicles like cars and planes, could make a comeback in a vastly different form. 

The Maglev train, a train utilizing only electromagnets, clocks in at speeds of up to 375 mph. They work by using the unique attractive and repulsive properties of magnets to create motion without high friction. Magnets lining the bottom of the train are the same polarity as the ones lining the track, allowing them to levitate. Magnets on the sides of the train alternately repel and attract magnets on the track, allowing for the train to be pushed and pulled forward constantly. Since they are electromagnets, they can be controlled automatically by computer systems with minimal human intervention. There is no driver for the Maglev train, the train simply goes where physics sends it.

Maglev trains do not make contact with the track while moving. The only friction it faces is from the air itself, allowing for a smooth ride for riders. Even at its top speed of 375 mph, riders would experience less turbulence than in a traditional rail train. The safety of Maglev trains are also top notch. Crashes between two trains are almost impossible, since the magnet systems are powered equally, trains are all moving at the same speed. Derailment is also very unlikely. Due to the magnetic forces, the farther a train is from the tracks, the stronger the force is bringing it back, making derailment highly unlikely

Maglev trains are revolutionizing high speed travel. Their high top speeds, comfortability, and safety are making it popular as a choice for traveling across land quickly. While they aren’t in the United States yet due to high installation costs, with enough refining, Maglev trains could be the most common way to travel to your vacation destination.