Transrapid

Name: Transrapid
Genre: documentary

In the four-part documentary miniseries “Transrapid”, Dave digs into the story of the maglev train once billed as the fastest in the world. The starting point is Germany's current transport crisis of roadworks, traffic jams and strikes, a problem that a solution may have existed for decades ago. The first episode goes back to the Transrapid's beginnings and its inventor, before the series turns to how the technology actually works. If you're into engineering history and the politics of getting around Germany, this one's for you: why isn't this innovation running across the country today?

Next episode: –
Schedule: Weekly
So far: 4 episodes
Where: YouTube, free

Start with episode 1

All episodes

Spoiler-free: episode titles hidden

Episode 1Episode 1: Die dunkle Geschichte des schnellsten Zuges der Welt! | Transrapid 1/4Sun, 2/1816 min
Construction sites, traffic jams and strikes – Germany is stuck in a transport crisis, yet decades ago there may already have been a solution. Episode one of the Transrapid documentary goes back to the train's beginnings and its inventor: how did the story of the world's fastest train start?
Episode 2Episode 2: Der Anfang vom Ende des schnellsten Zuges der Welt… | Transrapid 2/4Sun, 2/2517 min
The Transrapid was once seen as an innovative transport alternative for Germany – in part 2, Dave looks at how the maglev train actually works. So why couldn't it catch on despite its advantages?
Episode 3Episode 3: Das tragische Ende des Schnellsten Zugs der Welt... | Transrapid 3/4Sun, 3/320 min
In part 3 of the Transrapid series, Dave asks who is to blame for the end of the world's fastest train. His search leads him to the 2006 accident, the Deutsche Bahn boardrooms, the Greens and large protests. Who really pulled the plug on the Transrapid?
Episode 4Episode 4: Wieso der Transrapid nur in China fährt… | Transrapid 4/4Sun, 3/1018 min
The Transrapid failed in Germany, yet in Shanghai the maglev still runs today – in the series finale, Dave explores why China believes in the technology. And what drives a Bavarian company to hold on to the dream of floating trains?