Word: guideways
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Japan's maglev is faster because instead of pounding along a set of rails, it floats four inches above a guideway on a cushion of magnetic force; there is no friction to slow it down, no fear of derailment on a section of bent track. This maglev has wheels, but the only times it uses them are while picking up speed before lift-off and while slowing down after landing...
...principle behind the maglev is simple: opposite magnetic poles attract each other; like poles repel. In Japan's version, eight superconducting electromagnets are built into the sides of each train car, and thousands of metal coils are set into the floor of the guideway. When the train is in motion, the electromagnets on the train induce electric currents in the guideway coils, which then themselves become electromagnets. As power is increased, the opposing sets of magnets repel each other and lift the train into the air. Two other rows of electromagnets, one on each wall of the U- shaped guideway...
...guideway used would probably have to be enclosed. Selfert said. He mentioned a high speed railroad now in use in the San Francisco Bay area...