THE TOBU KYURYO LINE (POPULAR NAME: LINIMO) A MAGNETIC LEVITATION SYSTEM

摘要

The Tobu Kyuryo Line will be Japan's first railway service (length: about 9km) that adopts a normal conductive system levitated by the attractive power of magnets and propelled by a linear induction motor (called as High Speed Surface Transport or HSST). Nagoya Eastern Hill Region of Aichi Prefecture, where the line is being planned and constructed, was designated as the Aichi Academic Research and Development Zone, featuring ongoing residential areas as well as other cultural and recreational facilities. The area adjacent to Prefectural Highway Chikaraishi-Nagoya Line including the City of Toyota and Nagakute Town, hosts a great number of public and private universities, research institutes and recreational facilities. Overall, the area is being planned to play a key role to the entire zone. The Tobu Kyuryo Line contributes a great deal to vitalization of its adjacent areas as well as serves as an arterial transportation system to the areas. Moreover, the Tobu Kyuryo Line is projected as a transportation artery for visitors to the 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan since the Youth Park Area, a main ground for the Expo, is near the line. The line is also expected to promote global exchanges through its state-of-art magnetic levitation technology for the first practical application in Japan. This paper describes the background, linear planning, methods and structures, specifications, projected demands and balances and potential effects of the Tobu Kyuryo Line as well as the outline of the 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan.