Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Baltimore–Washington SCMAGLEV Project?
The SCMAGLEV (superconducting magnetic levitation) Project, is a proposed high-speed rail line between Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, DC, with an intermediate stop at BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport. Ultimately, the system will be extended to New York City. SCMAGLEV is the most advanced high-speed ground transportation system in the world. Traveling at a speed of 500 km/h (311mph) will enable a 15-minute trip between Washington, DC and Baltimore and a one-hour trip between Washington, DC and New York.
- What is the SCMAGLEV system and how does the SCMAGLEV compare to other high-speed ground transportation systems?
- Is it safe to ride on the SCMAGLEV system?
- Is the SCMAGLEV system ready for commercial application?
- How much will a ticket cost?
- How much will construction cost and how will it be financed?
- How will this impact neighborhoods and the environment?
- How does the SCMAGLEV system operate in snowy or rainy conditions?
- How loud is the SCMAGLEV?
- Does the SCMAGLEV system generate perceptible ground vibration?
- Are the magnetic fields generated by the SCMAGLEV dangerous?
- What about the land needed to build the project? How will the project affect landowners?
- Why can’t the alignment be 100% underground?
- What is the relationship between BWRR and The Northeast Maglev (TNEM)?
- Who will operate the SCMAGLEV?
Clearing Up Misconceptions
- Maps show massive 1000-foot wide alignments for the SCMAGLEV. There are thousands of houses shown in these paths!
Some privately-created unofficial maps show the potential width of the path as 1000 feet. It is important to only refer to official maps created by the NEPA process. Other maps may have misleading and inaccurate information. In actuality, the width of the SCMAGLEV’s above ground viaduct structure is approximately 46 feet. During construction, the contractor’s temporary work zone will be 72 feet wide.
- Without a stop between BWI Airport and Washington, the communities in between get no benefit. Why should they support this project?
- This train is only for elites. Where will SCMAGLEV riders come from?
- I’ve read that this train will destroy tens of thousands of houses, as well as churches, schools, and important historical sites.
- SCMAGLEV is not financially feasible because it’s so expensive. It will just become a burden on state taxpayers.
- The SCMAGLEV is an unproven technology, how do we know it will work here?
- It would be cheaper and have fewer community impacts to just upgrade the existing Northeast Corridor to high-speed rail.