Transrapid · Test vehicle
Transrapid 03
The Transrapid 03 did not levitate magnetically but on a cushion of air. With it, Krauss-Maffei compared the two technologies head to head in 1972.
History
The comparison that decided the direction
The TR03 proved that the future belongs to magnetic levitation.
Besides magnetic levitation, Krauss-Maffei was also pursuing air-cushion technology at the time. With the TR03 the company wanted to compare the advantages and disadvantages of both approaches directly. It ran on the same 930-meter track in Munich-Allach as the TR02.
The result was clear: electromagnetic suspension (EMS) was far superior to the air cushion technically, ecologically and economically. Shortly after this comparison, France and England discontinued their Aérotrain developments.
Key facts
- Year built
- 1972
- Operation
- 1972
- Company
- Krauss-Maffei
- Route
- 930 m TR02/03 track, Munich-Allach
- System
- Air cushion
- Air gap
- 3 mm
- Rated speed
- 150 km/h
- Maximum speed achieved
- 140 km/h
- Vehicle units built
- 1
- Empty weight
- 8 t
- Payload
- 2 t
- Seats
- 4
- Standing places
- –
- Length
- 11.7 m
- Width
- 2.9 m
- Height
- 2.5 m
Fate
- Location
- scrapped
