People said it was like riding on a cushion of air, and if fact, they weren't far from  wrong.  The HSST was brought over to Expo 86 as an example of Japan's lead in magnetic levitation technology.  The train itself floated above the track on electro- magnetic modules.

Visitors to the Japan pavilion could experience what future travel may be like by boarding the prototype rail car.  Although the train has been clocked at speeds over 300 KPH, the short 450 metre track only allowed the train to reach a speed of 40 KPH.

Click here to view some informative HSST operational info.
(warning -- the above link is graphic intensive)
 
 
 

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