The issue in Japan, though, is that they already have a high-speed network running on the same route, meaning that the extra gain from the maglev will be marginal.
It's a bit of a lost opportunity that neither China nor (so far) India tried leapfrogging directly from regular rail to maglev. The costs involved are admittedly staggering, but both countries would have the economies of scale to make them tolerable eventually.
It's a bit of a lost opportunity that neither China nor (so far) India tried leapfrogging directly from regular rail to maglev. The costs involved are admittedly staggering, but both countries would have the economies of scale to make them tolerable eventually.