A good concept, lots of work to implement. Huge cost in infrastucture.I see the interstate system as a good place to build. Right down the middle between the landes of divided highways, right of way already in place. I have to go neutral on this one becuase I see a different solution beating this idea to the market. Robotic/hybrid semi trucks. Robotic vehicles are coming along rapidly, as is hybrid technology. Soon we will have robitic over the road haulers using hybrid technology (hydrogen perfered), tweels, and coil power trasmission recharing so they can charge on the go from power "nodes" place along the interstates. The cost of cheaper grid power and eliminating the costs of a driver (at the social cost of a job)will bring the cost of shipping down a lot, probly to much to warrant a mag lev system of anykind.

Yeah, but trains are still more efficient than trucks for long haul, regardless of propulsion system, fuel, etc.

Remember hybrid systems as in cars are pointless when you spend most of your time in high gear. Wouldn't apply to long haul, only local trucks which do a lot of stop and go.

Re maglev, doing anything at high speed at sea level requires high power to push the wind. With higher energy costs, I doubt that faster delivery would offset higher price.

I did anticipate the high cost of the infrastructure for a MAG LEV deliverysystem. I agree it is very futuristic, but I have a gut feeling that thiscould be used to convey expensive or hazardous cargo. It would be implementedin a Martian envoirnment - It could interest NASA. Image the fateof Aged people living in remote corners of the United States, who relievedthey would be get their bread, butter and medicines delivered on a smallMAG LEV pipe

I can see mag lev pipes getting mail/cargo to hub facilities but not to the doors or mailboxes of homes. Hub facility/post office employees could then transport it to homes, as it is done now.

Actually, someone came up with a similar idea. I believe it was called Skytram. Problem: Adding to already crowded infrustructure. Solution: Create all new infrustructure that incorporates all communications, power distribution and television broadcast that all enters the home or business via the garage or recieving dock. Sell individual cars and automated cargo containers that run on the new pipelines. You can stack or spread out more pipelines in crowded areas and relieve road congestion through this "new" mass transit system and reduce wires. There are other possibilities but it would require someone to convince power, comunication and paid t.v. providers to outsource their infrustructure to a single company.

SKYTRAM IS A ROPEWAY CONCEPT. MAG LEG PIPES IS A DIFFERENT CONCEPT.THIS COULD BE UNDERWATER, UNDERGROUND AND OVERGROUND. THIS IS A INNOVATIVECONCEPT, WHICH WOULD BE A GROUND REALITY IN A FEW YEARS TIME.

Mag Lev transportation is going to have the same trouble the Railroads have. The FEDERAL government manipulates the taxes and regulations so that the railroads can not compete with over the road trucking.

Railroads can haul freight from station to station for 1/8th the cost of over the road trucking. But the Federal government has made it unprofitable for railroads to haul freight.

Similarly, hydroelectric power plants are subsidized NOT to produce power so they do not compete with coal and oil fired power plants.

Don't take my word for it, go look for yourselves.

US Politicians are in the back pockets of oil, coal, Teamsters, but not the people.

The US Federal Government may not encourage railroad transport - butthe stark truth is that they are about 8 -10 times cheaper than roadtransport. The Mag lev pipes may throw many of the small parcelplayers including the Postal department of business. The IndianGovernment has of late realised the importance of Railways.The Indian Railways has been making a profit of 4200 million USD for the past four years.

The US Federal Government may not encourage railroad transport - butthe stark truth is that they are about 8 -10 times cheaper than roadtransport. The Mag lev pipes may throw many of the small parcelplayers including the Postal department out of business. The Indian Government has of late realised the importance of Railways.The Indian Railways has been making a profit of 4200 million USD for the past four years.

what about adding personal travel pods that could be magnetically attracted to the rail. Also travel down the highway infrastructure. Powered by electricity or clean fuel arriving at a station where, similar to a commuter train staion, folks line up to attach; swithing on and off toggles in the pod to drop on/off of the magnetized rail. A wind turbine atop the pod could refresh battery power while attached to the rail and at staiton closest to the destination after disconnecting from rail. pod would resume its individual power to get to and from the destination. This would essentially become private/public transportation.

There are unimaginable uses of maglev in terms of clean fuel transportsystems. Maglev scooters would be ideal for a personal transport system, a BUV scooter which runs both on the road and on Maglev will be a reality one day. One has to think of a efficient anti-collusion system in case of Maglev Scooter, which should be quite feasible tomake considering today's technology.