Can regular rail lines be modified to Maglev or is it impossible to do?

Question

Has this ever been done before?

Answer 1

No, because a regular rail line has 2 rails on which the train runs with flanged wheels and uses diesel or electric traction, while a maglev is a monorail on which the train 'floats' on a magnetic field. This type of traction used to be called 'linear induction'. It is a linear electric motor in which the monorail is the magnet and the train is the armature.

So the only way in which a regular rail line could be converted to maglev is to be completely stripped down and rebuilt.

Answer 2

that would be impossible

however if it is in a route that someone wanted to build a maglev route, the right of way would be the biggest cost of a maglev espcially considering they would only ever be viable in high population density areas.

so the route of a conventional railroad could be used and in many places there would be room for both side by side.

Answer 3

impossible,though the steel from the regular rail lines may be used.