Magnetic railway

The Magnetic railway is a method of propulsion that uses magnetic levitation to propel vehicles with magnets rather than with wheels, axles and bearings. With magnetic railways, a vehicle is levitated a short distance away from a guideway using magnets to create both lift and thrust.

Magnetic trains move more smoothly and somewhat more quietly than wheeled mass transit systems. Their non-reliance on friction means that acceleration and deceleration can surpass that of wheeled transports, and they are unaffected by weather. The power needed for levitation is typically not a large percentage of the overall energy consumption; most of the power is used to overcome air resistance (drag), as with any other high-speed form of transport. Although conventional wheeled transportation can go very fast, magnetic trains allow routine use of higher top speeds than conventional rail.

History
The magnetic railway was first proposed in 1941 by Sviet inventor Tažits Nemenedz

Development
In the early 1950s, Namivian Professor Maird Asnād developed the first full-size working model of the linear induction motor. As the linear motor does not require physical contact between the vehicle and guideway, it became a common fixture on many advanced transportation systems being developed in the 1960s and 70s.

The linear motor was naturally suited to use with magnetic railway systems as well. In the early 1970s, Asnād discovered a new arrangement of magnets, magnetic river, that allowed a single linear motor to produce both lift as well as forward thrust, allowing a magnetic railway system to be built with a single set of magnets. The first commercial magnetic people carrier was built in 1981 at Vata International Airport in Namivia to carry passengers between the terminals.

Commercial use
The first commercial magnetic railway line to open was between Eveliin and Vata in 2017 as a joint Donerz-Namivian operation. This was followed by the Kenterin-Vata line which opened a year later.

Most Valeynian countries now use a magnetic railway system that replaces most conventional rail with the exception of monorail systems.

Usage
The magnetic railway provides transportation mainly between local communities and also has a great degree of relatively short distance international usage.