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CENTRAL JAPAN RAILWAY COMPANYCENTRAL JAPAN RAILWAY COMPANYCENTRAL JAPAN RAILWAY COMPANY

JR Central PavilionSuperconducting Maglev Takes Off!— Beyond the threshold of existingsurface transit systems —

Superconducting MaglevThe Superconducting Magnetically Levitated Linear

Motor Car, or the Superconducting Maglev, is an

innovative contact-free surface transit system, using the

magnetic force created between superconducting magnets

on board the vehicle and coils attached to the guideway.

Research on the Superconducting Maglev began in

1962, when the then-Japanese National Railways (JNR)

initiated research into the linear induction motor

propulsion system to design a next-generation high-speed

railway, to succeed Shinkansen, capable of linking Tokyo

and Osaka in just one hour. In 1972, a successful levitated

operation was conducted at the JNR Railway Technical

Research Institute (today’s JR Railway Technical

Research Institute). The Miyazaki Test Track was built in

1977, and the first test car, ML-500, clocked 517km/h in

1979, setting a world record in railway operation.

The construction of the Yamanashi Maglev Test Line

was determined in 1989, with operation tests starting in

Yamanashi in April 1997. Operation tests progressed

steadily, setting the manned operation record of 552km/h

in April 1999, and successfully performing a passing test

at a relative speed of 1,003km/h in November. In March

2000, the then-Ministry of Transport committee recognized

that the technology had the practicality for an ultra-high

speed mass transit system. In the timeframe of around 5

years from FY2000, the project has been conducting test

runs to achieve a higher level of perfection, with the aim of

verifying the systems’ long-term durability, exploring

technologies for cost reduction, and improving the

aerodynamic characteristics of Maglev vehicles.

The Superconducting Maglev achieved the manned

world record speed of 581km/h in December 2003, as

well as the relative passing speed of 1,026km/h in

November 2004, with the cumulative test run distance

exceeding 400,000 kilometers. The fundamental

technology has been fully established for commercial

applications. Test rides are offered to let people experience

the height of technological excellence. A total of around

85,000 people have enjoyed the test rides as of the end of

December 2004.

Setting up a standalone pavilion at the eventattracting domestic and international attention

The 2005 World Exposition (“Aichi Expo” hereafter)

is set to open in Aichi Prefecture for 185 days from March

25, 2005, as the first general exposition to be held in Japan

since the 1970 Osaka Expo. The event will take place in

Nagoya’s eastern hill area (Nagakute Town, Toyota City

JR Central Pavilion

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and Seto City), and the Japan Association for the 2005

World Exposition expects to attract 15 million visitors.

JR Central will set up its own pavilion at the Aichi Expo,

an event that will attract domestic and international

attention, with the aim of introducing Japan’s advanced

Superconducting Maglev technology, and of using the

occasion as the launching pad for realizing the next-

generation surface transit system.

Three Zone configurationAfter receiving an approval from the Expo Association

in March 2002 for our request for pavilion participation,

JR Central formed a project team within the Maglev

Systems Development Division in June. The pavilion

location at the Expo site was finalized in July, and the

basic vision for Expo participation was compiled in April

2003. Since then, the team has undertaken specific

preparation work, e.g. designing the pavilion itself. The

pavilion site was handed over in January 2004, allowing

the construction work to commence in February. The

director and deputy director of the pavilion were appointed

in July, ahead of other exhibitors. The project team has

come under direct control of the General Technology

Division, and is also preparing for pavilion administration,

as well as producing exhibition contents.

With the Aichi Expo just around the corner,

preparation work is in its final stage. The pavilion building

has been completed, and exhibition items are taking shape.

Here are the pavilion’s outlines:

The pavilion is formally called, “JR Central Pavilion:

Invitation to the Ultimate Surface Transit System,” under

the theme, “Superconducting Maglev takes off! — Beyond

the threshold of existing surface transit systems —”. The

objective of our participation is to let visitors experience

the high level of perfection the Superconducting Maglev

system has reached, surpassing the boundary of

conventional railway systems, as explained in the pavilion

theme. More specifically, the pavilion presents Japan’s

cutting-edge “Superconducting Maglev” technology in the

approach of intellectual entertainment, appealing its

3D Theater

Superconducting Technology Laboratory

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“ultimate technological superiority” and “practical

applicability”. To this end, the pavilion consists of three

zones, namely, the Superconducting Maglev 3D Theater,

Superconducting Maglev Vehicle “MLX01-1” and

Superconducting Maglev Laboratory zones. The

Superconducting Maglev 3D Theater will focus on

“ultimate technological superiority” with its key phrase of

“excitement” and “ultra-dynamic spectacle”, while the

Superconducting Maglev Vehicle “MLX01-1” Zone will

appeal the technology’s “practical applicability” with its

key phrases of “first-hand experience” and “581km/h

reality”. The Superconducting Maglev Technology

Laboratory Zone will highlight the aspects of

“understanding” and “cool intellectual entertainment” to

provide “intellectual pleasure”.

Display of the actual Maglev vehicle thatclocked 581km/h

The Superconducting Maglev 3D Theater is the

highlight of this pavilion, showing High Vision 3D footage

on an 800-inch screen for a dynamic presentation of

Superconducting Maglev’s 500km/h speed. The first

exhibit introduces the history of railway technologies,

technological development and social background that

have contributed to numerous innovations leading to the

Superconducting Maglev system. In the main 3D Theater,

a massive screen measuring 10 meters tall and 18 meters

wide shows dynamic High Vision 3D footage of

Superconducting Maglev vehicles in action along the

Yamanashi Maglev Test Line. The moment of a

Superconducting Maglev vehicle levitating at a speed of

500km/h, and two vehicles passing by in opposite

directions, are among the scenes featured in the footage,

presented from various angles with realistic sound effects,

dynamically reproducing the powerful operation of the

Superconducting Maglev.

Next comes the Superconducting Maglev MLX01-1

Zone, the central exhibition of this pavilion, displaying

the actual double cusp-shaped leading car (“MLX01-1”,

28.0m long) that achieved the manned world-record speed

Superconducting Maglev MLX01-1

3D Theater

Superconducting TechnologyLaboratory Superconducting Maglev MLX01-1

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http://jr-central.co.jp/

of 581km/h on the Yamanashi Maglev Test Line in

December 2003. Visitors can feel the awe of the genuine

technological excellence, as they have a first-hand look

at the bogie installed with superconducting magnets, the

source of propulsion force, or inspect the lightweight body

that has reduced air resistance to the bare minimum. The

inside of the vehicle is also available for viewing.

The last stage of the pavilion, the Superconducting

Maglev Technology Laboratory Zone offers an easy-to-

understand introduction to the Superconducting Maglev

technology. In order to prove that the Superconducting

Maglev system has already reached its level of practical

application, the power and mechanism of Japan’s cutting-

edge technology are explained through a space shuttle

miniature launching demonstration using the world’s

highest-performance high-temperature superconducting

coil , and a levitation demonstration based on

superconductivity. The display of equipment used in past

Superconducting Maglev development provides an insight

into the footsteps of the development work.

The footage to be screened at the 3D Theater has

already been completed, and pavilion attendants are

rehearsing for the opening day, as the preparation work

enters i t s f inal s t re tch. Witness the genuine

Superconducting Maglev vehicle and fascinate yourself

with the technological sophistication at the “JR Central

Pavilion”. Your expectations will not be betrayed when

Aichi Expo opens on March 25.

The Expo sites are located in the eastern part of Nagoya. Central Japan Railway Company will operate40 daily round-trip services of the “Expo Shuttle”, which connects Nagoya and Yakusa in 38 minutes.