Maglev (derived from magnetic levitation) was a system of overland, underground, and transoceanic transport used on many Federation planets, including Earth. (Star Trek: The Motion Picture, TNG: "We'll Always Have Paris", "All Good Things", DS9: "Past Tense, Part 1", VOY: "Non Sequitur")
Maglev (and later antigrav) systems all but eliminated powered wheeled vehicles -- and the upkeep and repair of the "conventional" rail systems extant since Earth's 19th century -- because it was frictionless.
- There was still a perceived need for powered wheeled vehicles, even in the 24th century, as demonstrated by the existence of the Argo all-terrain vehicle. (Star Trek: Insurrection)
21st century[]
In 2045, the Translantic Maglev Tunnel was completed, connecting Montauk, New York, and County Kerry, Ireland. (Star Trek: Shadowstar Station Timeline)
22nd century[]
One of Irina Gordon's earliest memories was of taking the Bima maglev from Denpasar to Jakarta to visit her grandmother. (Star Trek: Shadowstar Station: "Irina")
23rd century[]
During the 23rd century, the many facilities of the Empire State Hospital Complex, on Roosevelt and Manhattan Islands in New York City, were connected by an underground private maglev network. (Star Trek: Avenger)
Admiral Marcus van Diemen was assassinated aboard a maglev train, though the assassination was made to look like natural causes, in the late 2230s. (TOS novel: The Final Reflection)
- The maglev train in the novel was said to have a typical speed of 3,000 km/hour.
In the 2260s, a maglev train was in use aboard Vanguard Station/Starbase 47. (ST: Vanguard novel: Harbinger)
After her college boyfriend broke up with her in 2273, Carolyn Adiwoso hopped on a maglev from New York City to San Francisco to cry on her cousin Sabartomo's shoulder. (Star Trek: Shadowstar Station: "Promised")
- The term sub-shuttle was used interchangeably with maglev in this story, and derived from Gene Roddenberry's 1970s pilots Genesis II and Planet Earth.
24th century[]
Earth's global maglev network was active through at least the late 24th century. One of the longest routes was in the African Confederation, along the west coast from Casablanca to Cape Town. And, in Tokyo, more of the inhabitants used maglevs than transporters, even in the 2370s. (Last Unicorn Games RPG: "The Cadet's Guide to Sector 001 Earth")
After their second wedding ceremony in Seattle, Jack and Beverly Crusher preferred to take a coast-to-coast maglev from Tacoma Station to Providence, Rhode Island, rather than use transporters. ("4th and Market")
As late as 2381, a maglev rail line ran above St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans. (ST:Typhon Pact novel: Rough Beasts of Empire)
- It has not yet been seen, either in aired or published Trek, to what extent Earth's maglev network was made obsolete by site-to-site transporters. However, the existence of maglev trains didn't obviate air trams or hovercars -- though private ownership of the last might have been strictly licensed, or limited to VIPs.
The main maglev station for Starfleet Command in San Francisco was at Fort Point, underneath the Golden Gate Bridge's southern approach in 2381. (Beverly Crusher Investigates: The Death on the Kobayashi Maru)
External link[]
- Maglev article at Memory Beta, the non-canon Star Trek wiki.
- Maglev article at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.