Transrapid Floats Toward Munich

Implications: The Transrapid railway system is an ambitious business project with high potential. Unfortunately the German developers were not able to see their modern train run in Germany or Europe as the concept was exported to China and the first track was build to link Shanghai with its airport. Now the high tech train system is coming to Germany.

Analysis:

The former Bavarian minister president Edmund Stoiber exited national politics and made himself a farewell present by paving the way for the development of Europe’s first commercial Transrapid track which is to be built by the state of Bavaria to connect Munich’s city centre and its airport.

The Transrapid railway system uses an electromagnetic system which enables the train to float above the tracks thereby eliminating the need for an onboard engine. This system allows for much higher speeds (top speed with passengers 450 km/h (250 mph)) than traditional rail services. The service, developed by the consortium Transrapid, which includes Siemens and ThyssenKrupp, is regarded as a symbol of German technological competence. So far the only regular working Transrapid service is located in Shanghai, China.

The project is estimated to cost 1.85 billion Euros, which has caused some difficulties in regard to the project’s financing. The Bavarian government has now stated that the financial issues have been solved but various critics of the project are not convinced. In any event, an agreement has been concluded between the Bavarian state government, the rail operator Deutsche Bahn and the Transrapid consortium.