Long-term Durability and Special Running Tests on the Yamanashi Maglev Test Line

Abstract

Running tests of the Superconducting Maglev (JR-Maglev) have been carried out on the Yamanashi Maglev Test Line (YMTL) since April 1997. In the end of fiscal 2004, the cumulative running distance reached 434,066 km with several bogies and car-bodies exceeding 200,000 km, the initially set distance for durability evaluation. In March 2005, the results of running tests over the eight years, technical developments and several durability verification bench tests were evaluated by the Maglev Practical Technology Evaluation Committee that the key technologies necessary for the future revenue service were extensively established. This paper provides an outline of the developments and running tests in past five years together with detailed results from the YMTL running tests in fiscal years 2003 and 2004. In addition, the results of long-term durability tests during the eight years are summarized.