PREPARING A FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR A MAGLEV TRANSPORT SYSTEM

The Transrapid test facility in Emsland is almost completed, and the phase of putting into operation with the TR 06 maglev vehicle has commended. This will be followed by a general test phase to check the practicability of the maglev system. It is now time to clarify, by means of a feasibility study, what steps are necessary for the introduction of the maglev system in West Germany. Taking two existing railway lines as example, namely Hamburg-Hanover and Dusseldorf Airport-Cologne/Bonn Airport, the effect will be examined of the public-law licensing procedure, participation of the general public in planning procedures, and the information of the media. Also, the technical framework data will be revised on the basis of the experience gained in building the Transrapid facility and the technical improvements made subsequently. Proposed track routing plans are to take particular account of environmental protection considerations, while cost accounting models will be developed which allow fast and reliable forecasts to be made for future projects in respect of investment and operating costs, and optimal operating procedures will be determined by means of simulation.