The Trains That Put the West to Shame

Countries like Japan and China are introducing ultra futuristic floating Maglev trains on top of their already superior high speed rail networks. These 400 mph beasts can reach top speeds like this by using magnetic levitation instead of wheels, essentially eliminating the friction and mechanical restrictions caused by them. However, the staggeringly high upfront costs of building a Maglev network, provide a significant roadblock for investment by many western countries, despite claiming to be cheaper in the long run. And, with significant problems, delays and increasing costs of regular rail-based high-speed projects like the California High-Speed Rail and the UK's HS2, there is little hope that the west will ever catch up to Asia. In this video we take a deep dive into understanding why the west is falling behind and what technological advancements are coming out of Japan and China. Join our YouTube channel by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3asNo2n Find us on Instagram: https://bit.ly/3PM21xW Find us on Facebook: https://bit.ly/3t2Huvb Find us on Twitter: https://bit.ly/3wQfXzA Find us on TikTok: https://bit.ly/3wNsBOu Get the latest stories: https://interestingengineering.com/ Support IE for high-quality journalism: https://interestingengineering.com/subscribe Voice Over: Ash Steel Producer: Richard Dimery Editor: Richard Dimery Animator: Yazan al Sayed Writer: Duncan West