Plans to build a magnetic levitation train from the center of Munich to the airport were trashed on Thursday after construction costs almost doubled from €1.85 billion ($2.90 billion US) to €3.4 billion ($5.33 billion US). This is a major disappointment to Siemens, the company who exported the maglev to Shanghai, China, but cannot build a commercial maglev system within its home country. In September 2007, the German government had promised to pay half of the construction cost, but to a maximum of €925 million ($1.45 billion US) - they decided not to increase that amount. The project would have connected Munich with its airport in 10 minutes, a trip that would otherwise take 45 minutes on the S-Bahn, the suburban rail network. Shanghai currently operates a maglev train between Pudong International Airport and Longyang Road in Pudong. Trains travel up to 431 km/h (267 mph) on the 30 km (19 miles) route. While the speeds of the trains are fast, the Shanghai maglev frequently runs trains that are 80% empty. Many travelers complain that the maglev's terminus station is in the middle of nowhere, requiring a transfer to taxi or subway. While Munich's plan has been cancelled, Japan announced in 2007 its plan to start commercial maglev service from Tokyo to Nagoya in 2025.
