The Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry on Wednesday approved a third-sector company project to build a commercial maglev train line in Aichi Prefecture.
Aichi Kosoku Kototsu K.K., the third-sector firm jointly established by local governments and private companies, plans to open an 8.9-km maglev line between Nagoya and Toyoda by March 2005.
Maglev technology, called High Speed Surface Transport, has been adopted to conquer steep slopes in the area, the transport ministry said. The car, levitated and driven by magnetic power, will travel at speeds of up to 100 kph.
Prototype maglev trains can reach much higher speeds.
The timing of the opening is to coincide with a planned world exposition to be held nearby in March 2005.
The train, consisting of three cars, will run on the line 110 times per weekday, according to the project.