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Transrapid · Last German vehicle

Transrapid 09

The Transrapid 09 was the last Transrapid vehicle built in Germany. It was the first designed for regional service and for fully automatic operation.

TR09_II_magnetbahn.de
History

Built for regional service

The TR09 shows what a Transrapid could have looked like in everyday service.

Unlike its predecessors, the TR09 was designed for regional service for the first time. This is most visible inside: 156 seats and 165 standing places, wider, fully electric doors and a completely new climate control concept.

  • Fully automatic: The TR09 was designed for driverless operation from the start, which had already been tested in 2004 on the TR08.
  • Inductive power transfer: For the first time, inductive charging technology was installed along the entire vehicle, replacing the mechanical power rails of the TR08.
  • More comfort: Improved sound insulation in the car body makes the ride noticeably quieter.
  • Fine-tuning: The maglev running gear received minor technical improvements.

Key facts

Year built
2005–2007
Operation
2008–2011
Company
ThyssenKrupp Transrapid
Route
31.8 km Transrapid Test Facility Emsland (TVE)
System
Synchronous long-stator linear motor
Air gap
10 mm
Rated speed
505 km/h
Maximum speed reached
400 km/h
Vehicle units produced
1
End sections produced
2
Middle sections produced
1
Empty weight
169.6 t
Payload
40.4 t
Seats
156
Standing places
165
Length
75.8 m
Width
3.7 m
Height
4.25 m
Whereabouts

At Kemper in Nortrup

Today the TR09 could only levitate with one end section, and only on a cable.

All three sections are now at the company Kemper in Nortrup. Only one section still has its levitation and guidance magnet modules (TFMM). ThyssenKrupp Transrapid GmbH received the remaining TFMM in return for its help with transporting the vehicle away from Lathen.

On top of that, the batteries are deeply discharged. So only one end section could still levitate, and even then only with the "umbilical cord," a kind of charging cable for the Transrapid.

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