In a detailed reply to DNA, Professor Johannes Kluehspies, president of the International Maglev Board, that is organising the conference, confirmed the Indian no-show.
The Indian Railways might have taken its first step into the world of Magnetic Levitation (Maglev) trains by opening an Expression of Interest on September 6 but unfortunately it missed an opportunity to be part of the 4-day International Maglev Conference, set to start in Berlin on September 23. Organisers, who claim that it is the largest conference on Maglev commuting in the world, answered a DNA query on Indian participation by saying that all their mails to Indian Railway officials drew a blank.
In a detailed reply to DNA, Professor Johannes Kluehspies, president of the International Maglev Board, that is organising the conference, confirmed the Indian no-show. "We have contacted about 50 officials in the Indian Railways through email to invite them to come to the Maglev 2016 conference, which is the biggest and surely most relevant Maglev transport conference in the world. Unfortunately we did not even get an answer from anybody. Also, we contacted the Indian Railway minister twice to offer him a key note speech. India is a very important country for Maglev systems. Unfortunately we did not get any answer," Kluespies told DNA via email.
Kluespies added that the conference was keen to have India on board. "We feel sad about this. We really wanted to have India on our agenda. India is important, we wish to welcome and integrate India into the International Maglev community," Kluepsies wrote.
Incidentally, mails sent by DNA to the official email addresses of railway minister Suresh Prabhu, member Rolling Stock Hemant Kumar asking about the Maglev conference no-show drew a blank as well. Till the time of going to press, the railway ministry had not reverted to DNA's queries.
Among the nations participating are the United States, Japan, Russia, China, South Korea, Canada and France. According to the organisers, the topics to be discussed would include the development of Maglev lines in Russia, the performance of the Incheon airport Maglev line in South Korea, the Linimo system in Japan, the construction of the first urban Maglev line in China as well various technical innovations from the American firm Hyperloop.
India's Maglev push:As reported earlier, India took its first Maglev step on September 6 when the first EoI was opened. Six firms had answered the EoI. These firms were The firms are Agile Setu Private Limited from Surat, Medha Servo Drives from Hyderabad, United States-Georgia based American Maglev Technology Incorporated, Zurich-based Swissrapide AG. Indian power major Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited and one individual from Gurgaon by the name Sharad Marathe.
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