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Lathen (dpa) - It is possible that the interest of a Chinese railway company will enable the Transrapid test facility in Emsland to survive.
There had been an inquiry as to whether the system could in principle be made available for the approval of a magnetic train developed in China, said the managing director of the operating company Intis, Ralf Effenberger, on Friday: "That can basically be answered with yes."
It is a serious request.
Apparently it is difficult in China to build a plant like the one in Lathen.
The digital information portal "Table.Media" reported on it first.
According to the report, the Chinese railway company China Railway Rolling Stock (CRRC) wants to further develop magnetic levitation technology for high-speed trains and is examining cooperation with European partners.
CRRC has developed two prototypes based on the German Transrapid technology, but does not have its own test track.
A future for the Transrapid test facility Emsland (TVE) has been sought for years.
"It has never been so concrete," said Effenberger.
The system must be technically upgraded.
But the most important thing, the route, still exists.
He assumes that the customer will also bear the costs, stressed Effenberger.
Since the federal government has borne the investment for the construction, it also has a say in the further use.
However, there are still many legal questions that need to be clarified.
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Recently, TVE was also in discussion for a research project for a Hyperloop, in which magnetic trains run in evacuated tubes.
"Basically, a Hyperloop is a Magnetzug 2.0," said Effenberger.
However, a development only makes sense within the European network.
The TVE could also play an important role here.
The last Transrapid trip was in Lathen in November 2011. In Germany, the technology never caught on despite several attempts at planning.
In 2006, an accident occurred at the test facility with 23 deaths.
A Transrapid has been driving a 30-kilometer route in China since 2002.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210312-99-798820 / 2
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