Once upon a time, there was a man who tapped into the much
acclaimed infinite wisdom and brought out the first of what is now the fastest
form of land transportation.
This man started something that have not benefitted many Nigerians but have benefitted many more in other countries worldwide.
This mystery man is Englishman George Stephenson. George Stephenson in 1822 invented the first train with a steam engine. It was first operated for the public in 1825.
There have been some rail engines before Stephenson’s, but Stephenson’s was the best utilized. It was the first used commercially.
Today it’s very hard to imagine how slow the trains were in those days, because there have been so many changes to the railway system of transportation.
We now have more luxurious, faster and more available trains over the world. What were the changes that occurred to the railway system of transportation over the years?
After the steam engine powered trains, the diesel powered locomotives which were less labour intensive and cleaner (although more complex and expensive) came to replace the former.
The first diesel powered trains came into operation about 1925 in the United States. The fastest diesel powered train moves at a speed of 238 km/h (148 mph).
The latest technology in the evolution of railway transportation is the magnetic levitation trains which are being developed to move at breakneck speeds of over 500 km/h (310 mph).
In 2003, Shanghai Maglev train opened and is the fastest commercial train service of any kind, operating at speeds of up to 430 km/h (270 mph).
The Chinese record speed of the maglev train during a non-commercial test run on 12th of November, 2003, is 501 km/h (311 mph).
The longest railway in the world is the trans-Siberian railway which is 9,289 km (5,772 mi) long. It connects Moscow with the Russian Far East and the Sea of Japan.
The fastest commercial train is China’s CRH380A which moves at a top speed of 486 km/h (302 mph).
It has even been calculated that the high speed rail is preferable to air transportation when moving over a distance around 500 to 600 km as airport check-in and boarding procedures may add as many as two hours to the actual transit time.
Three greatest reasons to go for high speed trains;
It is less costly, more time saving, and safer.
This man started something that have not benefitted many Nigerians but have benefitted many more in other countries worldwide.
This mystery man is Englishman George Stephenson. George Stephenson in 1822 invented the first train with a steam engine. It was first operated for the public in 1825.
There have been some rail engines before Stephenson’s, but Stephenson’s was the best utilized. It was the first used commercially.
Today it’s very hard to imagine how slow the trains were in those days, because there have been so many changes to the railway system of transportation.
We now have more luxurious, faster and more available trains over the world. What were the changes that occurred to the railway system of transportation over the years?
After the steam engine powered trains, the diesel powered locomotives which were less labour intensive and cleaner (although more complex and expensive) came to replace the former.
The first diesel powered trains came into operation about 1925 in the United States. The fastest diesel powered train moves at a speed of 238 km/h (148 mph).
Due to the option of a lower cost per mile (though at higher
initial cost), which can only be profitable for high traffic lines, the electric
traction is less viable for long-distance lines but can be used for long
distance high speed lines.
The electric trains receive their current through overhead lines or through a third rail electric system.
The electric trains receive their current through overhead lines or through a third rail electric system.
The latest technology in the evolution of railway transportation is the magnetic levitation trains which are being developed to move at breakneck speeds of over 500 km/h (310 mph).
In 2003, Shanghai Maglev train opened and is the fastest commercial train service of any kind, operating at speeds of up to 430 km/h (270 mph).
The Chinese record speed of the maglev train during a non-commercial test run on 12th of November, 2003, is 501 km/h (311 mph).
That is faster than any formula one or motogp car has ever
raced. The train cost $1.2 bn to build.
Maglev has not yet been used for inter-city mass transit routes though. Maglev trains use magnetic levitation to suspend, guide and propel vehicles with magnets rather than using methods such as wheels, axles and bearings.
Magnetic levitation is a method of suspension of an object with no support other than magnetic fields.
Maglev has not yet been used for inter-city mass transit routes though. Maglev trains use magnetic levitation to suspend, guide and propel vehicles with magnets rather than using methods such as wheels, axles and bearings.
Magnetic levitation is a method of suspension of an object with no support other than magnetic fields.
The longest railway in the world is the trans-Siberian railway which is 9,289 km (5,772 mi) long. It connects Moscow with the Russian Far East and the Sea of Japan.
The fastest commercial train is China’s CRH380A which moves at a top speed of 486 km/h (302 mph).
It has even been calculated that the high speed rail is preferable to air transportation when moving over a distance around 500 to 600 km as airport check-in and boarding procedures may add as many as two hours to the actual transit time.
Three greatest reasons to go for high speed trains;
It is less costly, more time saving, and safer.
Posts
From steam engine trains to maglev trains; history and evolution of the fastest form of land transportation