PESTLE ANALYSIS
There are many aspects that need to be considered regarding the Maglev trains and how they compare with other means of transports. The key areas for consideration are political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental.
Political
Health risks; some people worry that Maglev trains produce health risks especially in built up areas. Although there is no evidence to prove this Maglev have been forced to avoid building in busy residential areas where possible, and where not, they must educate the residents of the benefits of Maglev trains.
Conflict between political parties in supporting or opposing introducing the Maglev into their country on a large scale. For example; in the UK Tony Blair was in full support of the introduction of a high speed train (Maglev) between Glasgow and London, however, the Lathen train Crash in 2006 in Germany put many people in favor of the Maglev off the idea due to the health and safety risks that are sometimes associated with it.
Economic
Lower maintenance costs in comparison to conventional trains as the main cost of these are the maintenance of the tracks and the wheels on the trains; however this does not apply to Maglev. As the Maglev does not have contact with the tracks due to the levitation less frequent check-ups and repairs are needed.
On average a Maglev train costs around $1 billion to set up; in contrast an airplane costs around $1 million to build. Maglev aim to reduce the cost of building to $18 million per kilometer. In 2006, Maglev put $125 million into guide way (track) cost reduction development. This resulted in an all-concrete modular guide way design that is faster to build and is more than 30% less costly than what was used in Shanghai.
Social
Safety is an important factor of the Maglev train. They are designed to never derail due to the balancing system built into it. Each Maglev has its own track so there is no possibility of collision between passing Maglevs. Power is only applied to the section of track where the Maglev currently is, this allows monitoring of their location in order to prevent rear end collisions and getting to close.
Technological
An advance on the technology used in regular track trains. The use of electromagnetic suspension provides a much faster service from A to B. Based on the simple concept of opposite poles attracting and repelling in magnets; this provides the basic principle behind electromagnetic suspension. The three main components consist of (i) a larger electrical source of power, (ii) metal coils to line the guide way (track) and (iii) strong magnets attached to the underside of the train to follow the guide way. The Maglev does not have an engine as the train is powered by the magnetic field created by the electrified coils in the guide way partnered with the magnets on the base of the Maglev.
Legal
Although there are no major legal issues regarding the Maglev in its current locations some issues may arise in potential locations for the future. Some implications may include health and safety regulations, the impact may have upon the environment to name but a few as these regulations may vary depending upon the country in question. Furthermore there is the right-of-way for the Maglev and the legal requirements in order to obtain the land required for the route of the Maglev.
Environmental
Energy Consumption: case studies have shown that Maglev trains use considerably less amounts of energy than a standard express train. A factor that might instigate this result is the lack of resistance formed by Maglev due to the contact less transportation as opposed to resistance caused by trains in contact with a track.
Again, Maglev trains have less impact upon the environment compared to standard trains regarding Carbon dioxide emissions as well as releasing more than half the emissions of a standard car.
Although noise pollution does not impact upon the environment in the way CO2 does it can a problem for people in the surrounding area. Fortunately the Maglev does not create noise through friction as there is no contact between the train and the track. However, it does, to some extent, create noise pollution through aerodynamic noise. But in comparison to other train services the noise created by the Maglev is noticeably less than that of a traditional train.
Political
Health risks; some people worry that Maglev trains produce health risks especially in built up areas. Although there is no evidence to prove this Maglev have been forced to avoid building in busy residential areas where possible, and where not, they must educate the residents of the benefits of Maglev trains.
Conflict between political parties in supporting or opposing introducing the Maglev into their country on a large scale. For example; in the UK Tony Blair was in full support of the introduction of a high speed train (Maglev) between Glasgow and London, however, the Lathen train Crash in 2006 in Germany put many people in favor of the Maglev off the idea due to the health and safety risks that are sometimes associated with it.
Economic
Lower maintenance costs in comparison to conventional trains as the main cost of these are the maintenance of the tracks and the wheels on the trains; however this does not apply to Maglev. As the Maglev does not have contact with the tracks due to the levitation less frequent check-ups and repairs are needed.
On average a Maglev train costs around $1 billion to set up; in contrast an airplane costs around $1 million to build. Maglev aim to reduce the cost of building to $18 million per kilometer. In 2006, Maglev put $125 million into guide way (track) cost reduction development. This resulted in an all-concrete modular guide way design that is faster to build and is more than 30% less costly than what was used in Shanghai.
Social
Safety is an important factor of the Maglev train. They are designed to never derail due to the balancing system built into it. Each Maglev has its own track so there is no possibility of collision between passing Maglevs. Power is only applied to the section of track where the Maglev currently is, this allows monitoring of their location in order to prevent rear end collisions and getting to close.
Technological
An advance on the technology used in regular track trains. The use of electromagnetic suspension provides a much faster service from A to B. Based on the simple concept of opposite poles attracting and repelling in magnets; this provides the basic principle behind electromagnetic suspension. The three main components consist of (i) a larger electrical source of power, (ii) metal coils to line the guide way (track) and (iii) strong magnets attached to the underside of the train to follow the guide way. The Maglev does not have an engine as the train is powered by the magnetic field created by the electrified coils in the guide way partnered with the magnets on the base of the Maglev.
Legal
Although there are no major legal issues regarding the Maglev in its current locations some issues may arise in potential locations for the future. Some implications may include health and safety regulations, the impact may have upon the environment to name but a few as these regulations may vary depending upon the country in question. Furthermore there is the right-of-way for the Maglev and the legal requirements in order to obtain the land required for the route of the Maglev.
Environmental
Energy Consumption: case studies have shown that Maglev trains use considerably less amounts of energy than a standard express train. A factor that might instigate this result is the lack of resistance formed by Maglev due to the contact less transportation as opposed to resistance caused by trains in contact with a track.
Again, Maglev trains have less impact upon the environment compared to standard trains regarding Carbon dioxide emissions as well as releasing more than half the emissions of a standard car.
Although noise pollution does not impact upon the environment in the way CO2 does it can a problem for people in the surrounding area. Fortunately the Maglev does not create noise through friction as there is no contact between the train and the track. However, it does, to some extent, create noise pollution through aerodynamic noise. But in comparison to other train services the noise created by the Maglev is noticeably less than that of a traditional train.