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To London in 45 minutes

Clarissa Satchell
23/ 2/2005

THIS futuristic, 300mph hovering train could whisk passengers from Manchester to London in 45 minutes.

The revolutionary system, which is already being used in Shanghai, has trains which "float" above a sophisticated electromagnetic guided pathway.

It would put Manchester within easy commuting distance of the capital, and could be up and running within 15 years - if the government decides to back the plan.

Transport Secretary Alistair Darling has said a super-fast service between north and south would be considered in the next few years as pressure on the railways increases.

German-based company UK Ultraspeed claims its system is the best way to deliver the high-speed link.

The friction-free Maglev, or magnetic levitation system, can reach 311mph.

And it would not be affected by problems that can paralyse present railway tracks, like leaves on the line and wear and tear.

When two magnets are placed opposite they push away from each other so because the guided pathway is magnetic and the base of the train is also fitted with magnets, it levitates.

Instead of using an engine to power the train, electrified coils in the guideway walls and `track' also push against each other to create a magnetic field - propelling the train forward.

Alan James of Ultraspeed said: "We could do London to Manchester in around 45 minutes. Some people will say it will destroy the landscape to build this new route, but that is actually not the case. It could run alongside existing transport corridors like motorways and on disused railway tracks.

It can also be elevated if necessary, meaning it takes up less land than a new motorway would.

"This is an opportunity for us to leapfrog the rest of Europe. It is an intelligent system, tested to aviation standard, which has the signalling integrated into it - meaning it is safer. And because it is elevated and is travelling at such speed it can float over leaves or snow - in effect it's the fastest snow plough you can get."

The route would stretch from the new Eurostar terminal at London St Pancras and up to Glasgow.

Chris Mulligan, director general of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive, said: "We would welcome anything to improve the links between Manchester and London.

"If this is approved I think we are looking at 15 years before it could be implemented, but I would welcome the government exploring this as a real option. The possibility of such a high-speed link between north and south emphasises even further the need to invest in improving capacity across the local network."

The government has recently spent '7.5bn upgrading the West Coast Mainline, the rail artery between Manchester and London, to take Virgin's tilting 125pm trains. Building a new rail artery across the country would cost billions.

But Mr James said: "We can also deliver our system for 80 per cent of the cost per route kilometre of upgrading an existing railway line.

"We are not trying to fit modern technology on top of a Victorian-built railway, which can cause all kinds of problems."

Mr James added: "This could not only help the south but boost the economic viability of the north through the connection to the south and between the major northern cities."

A spokesman for the Department for Transport said: "Maglev is just one of the possibilities we would be looking at."

What do you think of the futuristic train? Have your say.

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