Floating on Air
A maglev train is kept floating above the guide rails with a very strong magnetic field. The train is actually separated by 10 mm of air between the train and the guide rails. Hence, there is no friction like conventional trains. There is only air resistance. On a maglev train, there are no wheels. Instead, there are magnets on the guide rails and magnets on the bottom of the train.The magnets on the guide rails have the same magnetic charge as those on the train. For example, a positively charged magnet will push away from another positively charged magnet. Likewise, a negatively charged magnet will push away from another negatively charged magnet. This is because the electrical charges in the magnets are opposing each other. This helps lift the train off the guide rail and pull it forward.