Germany Signs Financing Agreement to Build Maglev Line in MunichBavaria, Germany's richest state, agreed on 25th September, 2007 to build the country's and Europe's first commercial high speed magnetic levitation - or maglev - rail line in Munich. After months of talks, an implementation agreement was signed by Edmund Stoiber, the then Minister President of Bavaria, Erwin Huber, the then Bavarian Minister for economic affairs, infrastructure, transport and technology, Hartmut Mehdorn, CEO of Deutsche Bahn (DB), the German Railways, as well as the CEOs of GSV, the manufacturing consortium of Siemens and ThyssenKrupp. The signatories finalised EUR1.85 billion in financing for the train line, which is to connect the state capital Munich with its airport, 37.4 kilometres away. In all, the German government is to pay EUR925 million, Bavaria will contribute EUR490 million, the German state rail company DB EUR235 million, Munich airport EUR100 million, Siemens and ThyssenKrupp EUR50 million and the European Union EUR50 million. The project already faced financing problems in the past. German Minister of finance Peer Steinbrueck warned that the price was based on an outdated, five-year-old calculation and that the project will be much more expensive. Munich's centre-left city government has complained that the cost is too high, and 60% of Bavarians oppose the plan too, according to a poll in late August.Maglev trains use electric-powered magnets that enable them to float above their tracks, allowing for much faster speeds than traditional rail services. They operate only on an expensive custom-built line while Germany's ICE and France's TGV high speed trains run on normal train tracks. Read E-News Weekly 41/2007, 37/2002, 31/2002 & 8/2002. Visit www.transrapid.de and www.magnetbahn.de Main data on planned Transrapid line in Munich Total distance 37.4 km Route along highway 18.7 km 50% Route along roads and rail 2.9 km 8% Tunnels 8.7 km 23.3% At grade 22.5 km 60.1% Intermediate stops none Road underpass 19 Road overpass 5 Rail overpass 2 Bridges 3 Noise protection barriers 4 km The maglev project also suffered a setback in September 2006 when a train collided with a parked maintenance vehicle on a test run in northern Germany, killing 23 people. European plans to build a working version of the Transrapid have been on hold since the crash. The only operating line is in China where the maglev line whisks travellers between Shanghai's financial district and the city's Pudong airport along a 30 km track. DB and GSV declare in the agreement that they attach great importance to the implementation of a commercial magnetic levitation railway line in Germany to secure the future of maglev technology and to strengthen Germany's competitiveness as a business location. The Transrapid, designed and built by industrial groups Siemens and ThyssenKrupp, is meant to represent German prowess in rail technology.Key to the implementation agreement is the willingness of DB and GSV to implement the scheme as a "target cost project". DB and GSV are set to commence work on specifying the scope of supplies and services and preparing the documents for the tendering process. Once planning permission has been received, the GSV consortium will offer DB a fixed price. The industry is prepared to bear the risk of technical functionality for the scope of supplies and services covered by the agreement.Construction of the Munich Transrapid line offers an opportunity to provide a much needed fast link from Munich's central railway station to the city's airport and to vastly improve the airport's connection to the rail network. Starting in 2014, travellers will see the 40-minute trip cut to just 10 by the driverless maglev Transrapid train, which is able to run at 450 km/hour. The starting point under Munich's central station will lie at 17 metres below ground. The line will mainly travel along the highway A92 to the airport. Altogether, there will be 8.7 km of tunnel, running under the city centre, north of the city and beneath the airport (see map). Click de/55. 47/07.