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Transport System Bögl: a new magnetic rail system

transportsystemboegl.com

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Re: Transport System Bögl: a new magnetic rail system

#11

Post by cgeier »

This is very similar to existing maglev trains (such as transrapid) but has the advantage that a lot of the technology is now in the trains, not in the track. That makes construction of such tracks a lot cheaper (but separate and new tracks are needed anyway).

Also, this new system is designed for cruising speeds of up to 150 km/h (instead of 500 km/h).

But in addition to passenger transport, they seem to be able to carry freight as well. Last year there was a demo track for container transport in Hamburg's harbour [1], not sure, if it's still there.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tee6BjDY0N8

Re: Transport System Bögl: a new magnetic rail system

#14

Post by abrudz »

Why do they have a re-painted Transrapid 07 on their grounds?[1]

Trnasrapid seems like a much more mature and capable design than their own. E.g. While Transrapid uses a T-shaped track, Bögl uses a U-shaped track. That's not going to work well with snow or falling leaves, not to mention people on platforms discarding items into the tracks…

[1] https://www.google.com/maps/place/Transport+System+B%C3%B6gl...

Re: Transport System Bögl: a new magnetic rail system

#15

Post by PinguTS »

thematrixturtle wrote: post #9
uniqueuid wrote: post #6

This seems to be a magnetic levitation solution. You know, floating on air cushions, (almost) no friction, but needs specific new tracks. A prototype was developed in Germany some 50 years ago [1] but never caught on. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transrapid

Shanghai built a demonstration line out to the airport that's still operational and the world's fastest rail line to boot: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_maglev_train But it looks like Japan will be the first with a proper intercity line in 2027-ish: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C5%AB%C5%8D_Shinkansen

Shanghai IS the Transrapid. Siemens first build it and than sold the whole technology to China, because the Transrapid is basically dead end.

I think, they extended the original track later on. But no new one will be ever build.

Re: Transport System Bögl: a new magnetic rail system

#16

Post by Octoth0rpe »

uniqueuid wrote: post #7
gbanfalvi wrote: post #5

How is this better than a regular train/subway/tram?

Magnetically levitated, meaning up to 500 km/h (~300 mph), silent, and it's driverless. Downsides are that you need to build completely new tracks with limited curvature (and new stations).

> meaning up to 500 km/h (~300 mph)

from the website: Cruising speed of up to 150 km/h

I'm guessing that the value proposition of this particular system is that it's cut certain performance corners to achieve a far lower cost while still providing more than adequate speed for the intracity use case.

Re: Transport System Bögl: a new magnetic rail system

#17

Post by iggldiggl »

gbanfalvi wrote: post #5

How is this better than a regular train/subway/tram?

Cynically speaking – it's based on a track made from pre-cast concrete elements, which Max Bögl (a construction company and concrete manufacturer at heart) will happily build for you.

It's also marketed as a fully turn-key system where everything starting from the design and finishing with the vehicles and operations control will be provided by Bögl, which conversely also means that it's a fully proprietary system and you're dependent on Bögl for continuing support or any future expansions, too.

Re: Transport System Bögl: a new magnetic rail system

#18

Post by PinguTS »

We should not forget the backstory of this company.

Max Bögel is the largest family-owned construction company in Germany. They build mainly infrastructure like roads, but where also involved in the Gigafactory in Grünheide in Germany.

So, for them its a new business unit to build more infrastructure as a whole contractor. They can delivery everything, not like it is today in infrastructure projects where you have many different contractors providing different parts.

So, they want to sell more concrete.

Re: Transport System Bögl: a new magnetic rail system

#19

Post by wffurr »

Quiet, fast elevated trains and commuter rail would be amazing, but at this point in the US I'd settle for existing at all or in the few cities that have rail systems, equipment that's not >50 years old and can actually stay on the tracks, be on time, and have reasonable levels of service.

But even that extremely low bar isn't achievable. Meanwhile, local, state, and federal government can find $200 billion dollars a year to spend on roads so we can all be stuck in traffic on good quality pavement...

Re: Transport System Bögl: a new magnetic rail system

#20

Post by iggldiggl »

PinguTS wrote: post #18

We should not forget the backstory of this company. Max Bögel is the largest family-owned construction company in Germany. They build mainly infrastructure like roads, but where also involved in the Gigafactory in Grünheide in Germany. So, for them its a new business unit to build more infrastructure as a whole contractor. They can delivery everything, not like it is today in infrastructure projects where you have ma…

Looking at that page, it's also marketed as a fully turn-key solution with really everything (design, track construction, vehicles, signalling) provided by Bögl, so they presumably also hope to get some sort of lock-in effect where buyers of their system continue being dependent on them for any ongoing maintenance or future expansions, too.

For how this can go wrong, look at the story of the Translohr (some sort of guided bus touted as a cheaper alternative to a conventional steel wheel tram), where the cities who bought that system subsequently had difficulties in persuading Alstom (who had bought up the tram part of the Translohr technology and eventually decided to sort of discontinue that system) to continue providing maintenance support or possibly even additional vehicles for the exisiting Translohr installations.

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