[JP] Linimo: “The Dream Maglev Train Is Already Running!"

[Eurorapid]

What was once called the “dream transportation of the future,” the maglev train, is actually already in daily operation in Japan. The Linimo (Aichi High-Speed Transit Tobu Kyuryo Line)—running about 8.9 km between Fujigaoka Station in Nagoya and Yakusa Station in Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture—has been running since 2005. It was originally built for the 2005 World Expo (Aichi Expo) and still serves as a regular commuter line today.

The Linimo uses electromagnetic levitation, lifting the train about 8 millimeters above the track. It operates fully automatically, reaches a top speed of 100 km/h, and is one of Japan’s fastest driverless trains. Quiet, smooth, and vibration-free, it feels as if the train is “gliding through the air.”

Stations are clean and modern, equipped with screen doors and IC card access, and the train interior features compact but calm semi-cross seating in black and gray tones.

While it’s a true “floating train,” the Linimo differs from JR Central’s upcoming Chuo Shinkansen maglev, which uses superconducting magnets cooled to –269°C to achieve much stronger magnetic force and speeds of around 500 km/h.

In short, Linimo is a “city-scale train of the future,” while JR’s maglev is a “nation-crossing bullet of the future.” Both float, but they represent different visions of next-generation transport.

Source: https://carview.yahoo.co.jp/news/detail ... 8f8822eb2/ Accessed: October 19, 2025