All the magnets, no high speed trains

China is beginning to explore high speed train technology, and who knows where it could lead. To illustrate some ideas about China’s emerging high-speed train technology, the author provides the following theoretical discussion:

I’ve been discussing the idea that if you put a maglev train in a tube and create a vacuum, then you can run it faster wherever you want it to go. Ok, nice idea, but I should point out the following flaws:

1. Every time a train enters this tube it has to be sealed and a vacuum created; the longer the tube the longer this will take.
2. Each train will need to carry its own oxygen supply or the passengers will arrive dead, not to mention any pets or other living things.
3. In such an environment a train can’t have a kitchen or cook as there can’t be any exhaust.
4. Should repairs be needed then the whole…