From: mk_thisisit
Kacper Koniarski, responsible for the development of the Lewmo company, discussed how their new levitating railway system compares to other advanced transport technologies like Hyperloop and Maglev, particularly in the context of its integration with existing railway infrastructure [01:26:30].
Hyperloop
The concept of Hyperloop served as the foundational idea for Lewmo’s technology [09:34:03]. Hyperloop envisions vehicles moving in a vacuum-sealed tube, eliminating aerodynamic drag, and using contactless drive and suspension systems [09:47:04]. This design aims to transport passengers at speeds approaching the speed of sound [10:02:04].
Lewmo originated from a student team that participated in an Elon Musk competition for Hyperloop, achieving a top 10 result among several hundred participants [10:26:00]. However, the team realized that Hyperloop faces significant challenges, primarily high costs associated with rebuilding entire countries for its infrastructure [10:50:07].
Despite the challenges, Koniarski believes Hyperloop will be created, potentially around 2050 [36:49:57]. He suggests that the main hurdle is not feasibility but rather Europe’s ability to accept and integrate such a system, requiring agreement from numerous member states [37:11:09]. He views Hyperloop as a good idea, especially if it can be connected to conventional rail systems, like Lewmo’s technology [38:22:20].
Maglev
Maglev systems are described as “functionally twins” to Hyperloop, but without the vacuum tube [11:05:40]. They also face two main problems:
- High Costs: Similar to Hyperloop, Maglev systems are very expensive to implement [11:12:35].
- Separated Systems: Maglevs are typically isolated from existing infrastructure, requiring passengers to transfer to reach city centers, which negates some of the time savings achieved during travel [11:18:18]. This issue is likened to air travel, where time spent getting to and from airports significantly adds to the total journey time [11:51:30].
Lewmo System: A Hybrid Approach
The core idea behind the Lewmo system was to leverage elements of Hyperloop technology but implement them on existing railway infrastructure [12:10:05]. This approach addresses the major drawbacks of both Hyperloop and Maglev:
- Cost Efficiency: By utilizing existing transport corridors, Lewmo avoids the high costs and time-consuming procedures associated with acquiring new land for infrastructure [12:22:45].
- Integration: The system is designed to be an overlay on the existing railway network, allowing trains to retain access to city centers [01:35:10]. This preserves the advantage of rail transport’s direct connection to urban hubs [12:35:13].
The Lewmo system involves installing new components, such as “levitation beams” (also called “levitation tables”) outside the rails and a linear drive system in the middle of the infrastructure [03:27:06], [04:35:05]. This allows for the use of new rolling stock that is lighter than conventional trains [04:09:07].
Lewmo’s passive levitation technology generates a magnetic cushion, allowing the train to float a few centimeters above the tracks [02:22:01]. This levitation force is a side effect of the vehicle’s movement over aluminum plates integrated into the levitation beam [03:10:28]. The technology is patented globally, making Lewmo pioneers in this field [00:08:43], [05:08:08].
The target speed for the Lewmo system is up to 550 km/h [00:29:12], which is comparable to the world record for Maglev (603 km/h) [05:27:18]. This speed is achievable on straight lines or very long curves, while still allowing for a 40% speed increase in other curves compared to traditional rail [13:38:00].
In terms of cost, revolutionizing a route like Kraków-Gdańsk (approx. 700 km) with Lewmo technology would cost about 500 million euros [30:03:00]. In contrast, building a Shinkansen (high-speed rail) infrastructure on the same route could cost between 50 and 150 million dollars per kilometer, leading to expenses in the tens of billions [30:20:00]. This highlights Lewmo’s competitive advantage in implementation costs [30:32:00].
Kacper Koniarski describes Lewmo as a “Polish answer” or “European answer” to the “Chinese Railway Revolution,” emphasizing their unique technology that integrates madlewo-derivative systems into existing European railway environments [01:00:00], [16:11:00]. The company aims for passenger transport by 2030 [20:53:00].