[JP] The Forgotten Maglev: Japan's First Commercial Magnetic Levitation Train in Yokohama

[Miss Maglev]

While the world watches Japan’s superconducting maglev (the Chūō Shinkansen) with anticipation—and frustration over repeated delays—few remember that Japan already achieved a world first in the 1980s: the commercial operation of a magnetic levitation train in Yokohama. Long before the planned Chūō Shinkansen (now delayed until at least 2034), another maglev project briefly came to life in the form of the HSST (High-Speed Surface Transport), developed by Japan Airlines (JAL). Despite its short-lived nature, it remains a significant milestone in transportation history.

### Maglev in the Shadow of the Bubble Economy

In 1989, amid the excesses of Japan’s economic bubble, the HSST maglev debuted at the YES’89 exposition in Yokohama. Unlike the superconducting maglev championed by Japan National Railways (JNR), which required costly cryogenic systems to operate, the HSST used conventional electromagnets, allowing for simpler, more cost-effective operation—albeit at lower speeds.

This Yokohama project was not just a showpiece. It marked the **world’s first commercial maglev operation**, albeit only for the duration of the exposition. The HSST-05 vehicle carried up to 20 passengers on an 800-meter loop, reaching speeds of 42 km/h and transporting approximately 1.26 million people during the event. Though modest in speed, it proved that maglev could work outside the lab.

### Competing Maglev Visions

Japan’s exploration of maglev technology began in the 1960s. The state-run JNR focused on superconducting systems capable of speeds over 500 km/h. But in the 1970s, JAL began developing a different type: the HSST. Its goals were more practical—shorter-distance urban transportation that was quieter and didn’t require complex cooling systems. JAL envisioned using the HSST to solve a real-world problem: poor access to Narita International Airport from central Tokyo.

Despite JAL’s ambition and early progress, including the sleek HSST-01 prototype complete with jet-like tail fins and the airline’s iconic crane logo, the airport maglev concept never materialized. Financial concerns and practical limitations curtailed the vision before construction began. However, development continued behind the scenes.


### Tsukuba Expo and Tech Evolution

The HSST reappeared in 1985 at the International Science and Technology Expo in Tsukuba. The updated HSST-03 vehicle offered passengers short rides on a 350-meter test track. Although it reached only 30 km/h, the system demonstrated real-world feasibility and became a step toward commercial application. Four years later, that dream became reality in Yokohama.

### The Legacy: From Expo Ride to Real Transit

Though the Yokohama HSST operation ended with the expo, it laid the groundwork for something greater: the **Linimo**. Opened in 2005 near Nagoya, the Linimo is the world’s first permanent maglev line using the HSST system. Originally built for the Aichi Expo, it remains in daily use as a commuter line serving residents in the region.

Running 8.9 km between Fujigaoka and Yakusa stations, the Linimo climbs gradients up to 6%, a feat traditional rail systems struggle with. Though it never reached high-speed rail status, the Linimo validated the HSST’s utility in urban and suburban settings and showed that maglev wasn’t just a futuristic fantasy.

### The Chūō Shinkansen: Still Waiting

In stark contrast, the superconducting maglev project has faced repeated setbacks. Originally scheduled to open in 2027, the Chūō Shinkansen’s debut has been postponed to at least 2034. Construction is stalled by environmental concerns, especially in Shizuoka Prefecture, where tunnel excavation threatens local water sources and ecosystems.

Other challenges include ballooning construction costs—expected to exceed ¥9 trillion—and safety concerns around high-speed operations in long tunnel sections. While the train promises speeds of up to 500 km/h, many question whether such costs and risks are justified.

### Dreams Deferred, But Not Forgotten

The Yokohama HSST may have been short-lived, but its technological and symbolic importance remains. It offered a glimpse of a different path—urban-focused, energy-efficient, and quiet transportation. Today, as the Chūō Shinkansen inches forward through regulatory and environmental headwinds, the story of the HSST reminds us that innovation is often non-linear. Japan didn’t just dream of the future—it briefly rode it.

Info based on https://merkmal-biz.jp/post/92559 Accessed 2025-05-11

[Eurorapid]

2025-05-09_merkmal-biz.jp/post/92559

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運輸省など関係者に乗り心地が披露された日本航空HSST。神奈川・川崎市川崎区の日航実験場。1978年5月撮影（画像：時事）

Japan Airlines HSST being demonstrated to the Ministry of Transport and other officials at the JAL test site in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan, May 1978 Source: https://merkmal-biz.jp/post/92559/3 Accessed 2025-05-12