Which is safer? a maglev train or a regular high-speed train?

Question

Which is safer? a maglev train or a regular high-speed train?

Answer 1

From an overall general standpoint, and while it still must be refined and improved, I think maglev technology has easily shown that it is quite a bit safer than conventional steel wheel on steel rail because as the first poster stated there are fewer moving parts along with the fact that the trainset almost never contacts any other surface (i.e., so thus no worry of conventionally derailing).

Answer 2

Maglevs haven't been in commercial operation long enough to have the proven safety record of high-speed rail.

Here is a list of accidents in France.  Note that only two of them may actually be specific to high-speed rail.  

http://www.trainweb.org/tgvpages/wrecks....

Maglev has the disadvantage of being faster (which means any collision would be more severe), but on the other hand, it has a backup means of moving.  They have to have wheels to get up to speed before they can levitate.  Just because of that, I'd be inclined to say that they'll probably end up being marginally safer than conventional high-speed rail.

Answer 3

I would agree with Alco, but you are not lkely to see maglevs anytime soon in general passenger rail service but your grandchildren might.

High Speed rail relatively speaking is NOT dangerous, the ride to the train station is far more deadly than the train ride.

Answer 4

I would think a mag-lev would be safer... fewer "moving parts" so less likelihood of mechanical failures.