A great 2003!
Here's wishing everyone a great 2003! Now for us in the Bay Area that would mean the technology implosion starting to reverse itself and getting a much-needed high-speed train such as this new one between the airport and Shanghai which has reduced the previous 1-hour trip by taxi to a mere 14 minutes according to this Wall Street Journal story (subscription required). Imagine making it to San Jose in 14 minutes from SF! :)
The train has reportedly reached speeds of 250 mph (400 kph) along a 19-mile-long (31-kilometer-long) track linking Shanghai's new financial district and airport.
The train was been built by a German consortium, Transrapid International, which includes engineering giants Siemens AG and ThyssenKrupp AG, and the track was laid by the Chinese government. The maglev travels faster than conventional trains because it floats on air -- held a few fractions of an inch above its rails by powerful opposing magnets.