What is the disadvantage of maglev train?

Question

magnetic radiation

Answer 1

There are many disdavantages:

1) Obnoxiously expensive to install.

2) Very very complex computer systems to control the thing, requiring specialist knowledge and maintenance.

3) Complete lack of flexibility - if any part of the track 'breaks' (literally or the magnet stops working) the whole system is out of action. No 'pass over at 5mph, driver' on this setup.

4) No interchangeability with other railways, so cannot borrow rolling stock etc, or go onto other routes.

5) Much higher Health and Safety requirements due to greater risks because of higher speed, no driver, etc.

6) Only slightly better energy efficiency due to no friction resistance.

There are more too, but those are the main ones.

Answer 2

cost

they are horrendously expensive to build

the technology is still developing, I have no doubt that in the future they will become cheaper to operate but as it is, they need a tremendous amount of riders to make them feasible.

Right now, for the cost of one mile of mag-lev track and the highly specialized equipment necessary you could make many many times more high speed rail and the same equipment that operates on conventional high speed rail is also compatible with all other rail lines (at a much slower speed of course)

Answer 3

only disadvantage is the cost of the thing to install

Answer 4

Simply--can't use existing infrastructure.  High speed rail is favored because it's an incremental upgrade of what exists.