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Why are maglev trains still rare? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 1 year ago by frightful_hobgoblin@lemmy.ml to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

144 comments fedilink hide all child comments

They were invented decades ago.

They have fewer moving parts than wheelbois.

They require less maintenance.

There's obviously some bottleneck in expanding maglev technology, but what is it?

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[–] kool_newt@lemm.ee 63 points 1 year ago (42 children)

Because it's not currently profitable in most cases. Capitalism ensures that the merit of an idea comes secondary to it's profitability. We don't get the best things, we get the profitable things.

[–] Joker@beehaw.org 7 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Where are all the maglev trains in non-capitalist countries? Sooner or later, in any system, someone has to do a cost benefit analysis and decide whether it's worth it. It's not just about profitability. There are plenty of situations in the US where something is unprofitable but still funded because the benefit is worth it.

[–] lol3droflxp@kbin.social 14 points 1 year ago

Dude, without capitalism we’d be living in flying maglev RVs on mars with free robot labour bro

[–] outstanding_bond@mander.xyz 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Three of the six currently operating maglevs are in communist china

[–] howrar@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 year ago

China is very much capitalist and has been for at least three decades now.

[–] kool_newt@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

Where are all the maglev trains in non-capitalist countries?

There aren't really any non-capitalist countries except maybe like N. Korea, which is not known for deciding things on merit.

There are plenty of situations in the US where something is unprofitable but still funded because the benefit is worth it.

I suppose, in some rare cases where there is not heavy lobbying and massive industry resisting it in an effort to preserve their power and wealth.

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