Is This Really Possible?

http://a6.unimodal.com

Cruise over to that net address up there. Take a look around the site. Drink it all in. Done? You've looked it over and are confident you have a basic layman's understanding of the concept and technology involved? Good, let's talk about it.

First of all, is there anyone more technical and engineering inclined that can offer an opinion about all the claims made on the site? For instance, the claim that it will cost 10 times less to build than standard light rail. For me, as a complete layman knowing nothing about the actual physical realities involved, this seems almost too good to be true. I know that there are light and heavy rail systems built around the maglev concept, and none of the claims they make are really that outrageous, it just seems like this makes way too much sense to actually be possible.

The second, and actual main thrust of this post, thing I want us to all think about is whether this is feasible economically and politically. My first reaction was that the oil, auto and airline industries would all gang up and strangle this thing in its crib. Then stomp on the crib and sell the pieces as pre-stressed lumber. But thinking about it further, the auto and airline industries, at least, are already about as weak as they've ever been. Add in the fact that this system has a supposed top speed of only 150 mph and there's an argument to be made that it wouldn't really compete with the airlines at all. As for the auto industry, if I were them, rather than picking fights against the public interest at the lowest point in my history, I would concentrate on showing people why they should support me rather than jump ship to some crazy new idea that will never fly. Unfortunately, this kind of technology does at least potentially represent an existential threat to the automobile industry as we know it. So, they'll probably have to try and fight it. The question being whether they have that kind of clout and power left at this point. Doesn't the government essentially own GM right now? Clearly these guys are nowhere near the top of the totem pole right now.

That leaves the oil industry. Arguably, the biggest, most influential of all. They certainly have other irons in the fire then simple gasoline, but they've never struck me as all that interested in simply giving up revenue to help society. Quite the reverse, actually. On the other hand, they've also never struck me as very forward-looking or visionary, so it's possible they won't even see this coming until it's too late. So, I'm throwing this open, and also possibly using it as a test to gauge readership. Comment away on these topics. What coalition of interests will rise to try and thwart this idea? Is it even a real and practical notion to begin with? If so, will the industries arrayed against it succeed in squashing it? Or will this fight even develop in time for an effective battle to be waged? That is, will the industries that should oppose this realize their danger in time to make it a real horse race, or will the American people be smart enough, fast enough to make the opposition of a few out of touch, selfish plutocrats inconsequential?