KARACHI MASS TRANSIT CORRIDOR-1:-

http://www.american-maglev.com/projects/karachi.jpg

http://www.american-maglev.com/tech/images/sim.jpg

Karachi, Pakistan -- American Maglev Technology, Inc. (AMT), in a consortium with Infrastructure Development Company Pvt. Ltd. (IDC), Lockheed Martin and Siemens Pakistan, received an exclusive franchise contract from The City District Government of Karachi (CDGK) in December 2004, to develop, finance, build, and operate a mass transit project along the "Priority One Corridor" along an eighteen kilometer (18 km) route in downtown Karachi.

This initial transit project is the first of at least six (6) intended phases of mass transit deployment in Karachi , with a completed development cost in excess of US $ 2 billion. The consortium expects to bid and compete for these projects with its unique and patented transportation technology under exclusive license with AMT. It also expects to compete for implementation of mass transportation technology on new projects in Lahore , Pakistan and Islamabad , Pakistan. The consortium of AMT, IDC, Lockheed Martin and Siemens Pakistan expects to compete and incorporate significant power, real estate development, and communications services for all of its projects.

Groundbreaking for the project is scheduled for July 2005.

For more information on this project, view the PDF version of the Karachi project proposal here.

KARACHI MASS TRANSIT (http://www.american-maglev.com/presentations/Web_Karachi.pdf)

:: LINK :: (http://www.american-maglev.com)

don't you think 2$Billion would be better spent in dealing with poverty problem in Pakistan?.... Even rich countries are reluctant to build Maglet because of poor
cost/value ratio.

don't you think 2$Billion would be better spent in dealing with poverty problem in Pakistan?.... Even rich countries are reluctant to build Maglet because of poor
cost/value ratio.
Several different projects are already underway in Pakistan to reduce the level of poverty, thanks for your concern.

This project will also contribute to reduce poverty as it will create more jobs. Read the PDF guide for Karachi Mass Transit, where everything is written in detail.

wrong forum. this belongs in transportation.

^^ Ok, it's my mistake, thanks for moving in the appropriate forum.

I'm having problem with font to view the PDF file.
Anyway, I heard that the economic value of Maglev lags behind other conventional means.
The only one commercially in service(correct ?) is in Shanghai Airport-Downtown... again,
it is futuristic and fast... but at a cost several times the conventional electric trains.... and the
cost is hardly justifiable and it has mostly show-off value.

the Shanghai maglev provides a test ground for future selections of Beijing-Shanghai high-speed line, since the maglev has been proven commercially unsuccessful and the maintenance is costly, the Beijing-Shanghai highspeed line will not use maglev technology.

there are rumours that China will extend the maglev line to Southern city of Hangzhou before 2010 Expo, but that's not confirmed.

the line is only 30 km long(i think i am wrong here, someone corrects me), if it's extended cost per km will be reduced.

Karachi is a city of 15mn people and it has no subway or any kind of rail that runs within the city. So i think it deserves that kind of investment and it will be on BOT basis I think.

There is a proposed maglev in Lahore, it has a 34 Kms long route.

The Jakarta monorail will likely use (Korean) maglev technology too...but it is nothing like the Shanghai one running at 400 km/h... rather, top speed 100km/h inner city urban transport.
Considering this Karachi one is for inner-city transit too, I'm inclined to think that it won't be the same expensive technology like Shanghai's.

Very nice, any city would like this new system. The train looks very sleek.

don't you think 2$Billion would be better spent in dealing with poverty problem in Pakistan?.... Even rich countries are reluctant to build Maglet because of poor
cost/value ratio.

Pakistan Government has spent $16bn over the past 4 years to bring down poverty. So a $2bn Maglev project won't be so bad. Plus, skilled, and unskilled labour would be hired, thus creating job opportunities, which would also help bring down poverty, and unemployement. ;)

I would rather support a monorail system for Karachi, than a Maglev. Maglev's can be used to connect two cities.

For example, the new city being built on the tip of Western Pakistan, Gwadar, a Maglev could be used to connect both Karachi and Gwadar. Both are port cities. Less travel time, better business. :)

Btw, according to the media reports. The first phase of this project would be operational by Dec next year (2006), and the whole project would be done by 2007 end.

I am VERY surprised that Old Dominion University has anything to do with this project.... not that I went to that school.... but knew someone that went to that school....


hey... I just found a link.... !!!


http://www.odu.edu/af/maglev/

Thanks for the link Locust.

American Maglev is going to under take the project, here is an image of the train they produce, doesn't look like a Maglev to me, more of a monorail system -

http://www.american-maglev.com/images/pics/nighttrain1.jpg

Btw, I really don't like the design of the train, it looks as if its a 70s train.. A custom design, with a modern design would truly add to the city of Karachi.

Someone write a letter to CDGK! :(

That last photo looks like a common monorail.

Considering the Maglev, as someone said, didn't prove successful, and is very expensive to maintain. I think a monorail system is a rather 'sane' and a very good decision.

But I really don't like the design of that train. It looks as if its been taken out of the 70s. They should've atleast picked a better design. :rant:

Don't worry Sultan, I'm sure that is not the final design.

:)

Well its a Maglev but i am hearing rumours about a Maglev from Karachi to another major city. HMMMM

Is this the magnetic train that is build by China??

I think this train travels some inches above the track..

Looks like everyone in Asia wants a Maglev!

lahore was to get a underground tube, when nawa shirif was pm, but as he went, the plan went with him.

i really hope that there will be one in lahore is well soon.

I am very pessimistic regarding the future of the Karachi Maglev project. American Maglev has not yet been able to make their demonstration system function properly:

http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=85025&ran=183839&tref=po

Progress on ODU maglev still bumpy

By DEBBIE MESSINA, The Virginian-Pilot
© April 15, 2005

NORFOLK — A year after receiving a $2 million federal grant to fix an experimental maglev train on campus, Old Dominion University and its partners have not yet achieved the “magic carpet ride” promised by its inventor.

While some progress has been made toward smoothing bumps and vibrations, more work is needed to produce a working prototype, said Jeremiah F. Creedon , ODU’s director of transportation research.

With about $250,000 remaining on the grant, ODU is seeking to extend its one-year contract with the Federal Railroad Administration through September .

The delays and dwindling cash mean there is no chance of meeting the contract’s stated goal – levitating and propelling the vehicle across the elevated guideway at 40 mph for 1,100 feet – before the money runs out.

Now, Creedon hopes to move the magnetically levitated train about 200 feet “at some reduced speed” by September .

He said the setbacks are disappointing but added, “We’re hopeful the new controls will work.”

ODU’s main partners are American Maglev Technology Inc. and Lockheed Martin .

Tony Morris , president and chief executive officer of Georgia-based American Maglev, would not comment. Morris, who is the inventor and owner of the train, has promised to remove the elevated concrete guideway that spans the campus if the project fails.

Arnold Kupferman , manager of the maglev program for the Federal Railroad Administration, said his agency is working to grant the extension.

“It’s not unexpected,” he said, adding that delays and setbacks are characteristic of research and development projects.

“By its very nature, you cannot guarantee the results,” Kupferman said. “You’re not buying an established technology that you expect to run as advertised.”

Hyped as the nation’s first passenger-carrying maglev when announced in 1999 , the project met its lofty goals early on. Private investors anted up $7 million , the state loaned another $7 million , a Florida test facility was opened, and a 3,200-foot -long elevated guideway was built in 37 days . The project was on track for a 2002 debut.

Then, problems set in. The train levitated and moved, but it bumped and rattled instead of floating on a cushion of air. Money was quickly consumed trying to find a fix. Contractors were not paid and eventually sued American Maglev for nearly $800,000 . The train sat idle on campus for two years awaiting an infusion of cash.

“This is more of a research effort than some believed at the beginning,” Creedon said.

Once the federal money came through last April , the original goal of creating a working campus transportation system was scaled down to producing a demonstration project that would require millions more dollars to get it ready to carry passengers.

ODU assumed the management of the project and involved the university’s engineering professors and students in finding solutions. Models and simulations were devised. Laboratory test beds were established at ODU.

As ODU worked with American Maglev and Lockheed Martin, the computer control system was changed to try to fix the vibrations.

Creedon said the new controls worked when the vehicle was levitated over a solid column. When it was moved to a section of track between columns, the vehicle still maintained stable levitation, but the guideway vibrated.

Once again, scientists are making adjustments.

A preliminary run was “ promising enough that we want to try it again,” Creedon said. “To make it work in a manner with an acceptable ride quality, it may require a secondary suspension system” – kind of like shock absorbers in a car.

Creedon said major modifications to the guideway are not being considered because the money is nearly depleted and, more importantly, more changes would increase the cost of building the maglev system.

“We don’t want to lose sight of the ultimate goal: coming up with an economically viable maglev,” he said.

The only passenger-carrying maglev in the world, a high-speed train in China, cost billions to develop and $1 billion more to build. Morris’ vision is for an affordable system that costs less than $20 million a mile.

“We need it to work at a price that communities are willing to pay for them,” Creedon said. “That leads us to make some choices, and it doesn’t make the job easier.”

Reach Debbie Messina at 446-2588 or debbie.messina@pilotonline.com.

Why don't they just used proven technology that betting on one that has yet to prove itself economically.

This will definetly be done its the next project on Karachi's table after DHA

Ahh man. If the company's tech isn't proven, then I think the Govt shouldn't consider giving them the contract.

Lahore would get a monorail, and the Punjab Govt is getting the Malaysians to do the job, I guess Sindh Govt or CDGK should do a similar job. :)

The Malaysian tech works fine, and is being used in Kuala Lumpur.

Why dont they build some suburban rail system? Much cheaper, so the remaining money could be spend on things like poverty and countrywide infrastructure development! And a maglev isn't really suitable for urban transport anyway is it? Whats the point of being able to go 400 km/h when the track is only 18 or so km long? I dont think the Shanghai maglev is too popular, and i doubt if the chinese are still considering to build a beijing - shanghai line. How many people in karachi will be able to use this maglev anyway? I can't imagine it will be cheap, and it will only run through some parts of the city considering it's such a large city.

^ They already have a intra-city rail system. Its a called 'Circular Railway'. But, they want to add a monorail / maglev system as well. Because, the plan is to connect the circular railway and monorail, so people can get off the monorail and hop on to the circular railway, and vice versa.

Karachi is a BIG CITY, and there's BIG Development going on. They deserve a Monorail / Maglev, besides the circular railway.

I agree with Joop20, theres absolutely no point of going 400 KM/H if the track is only 15-20 KMs long

Either they extend this to the whole city, or use it for Karachi-Gwadar

Karachi Gwadar is highly unlikely because thier is hardly any port operations going on so making it now would be pointless and a loss of money. Until Gwadar starts full operation its not a sensible idea.

Whats the point of being able to go 400 km/h when the track is only 18 or so km long?

18 km is how long they have planned to build the track right now, but it will be expanded in the future.

still, it is going to be more expensive to build the maglev. use that money to bury regualr subways under the ground and to create a more expansive network.

This unfortunately seems to be a common theme, from Dubai to South Asia to East Asia, that flashy = best. Why not just go with what works? :?

http://www.satribune.com/archives/200505/P1_mas.htm

http://www.satribune.com/archives/200505/pix_mas.jpg

Musharraf's Relative Lands Another Super Duper Project of the Future

By M A Siddiqi

KARACHI, May 12: Pakistan has taken a gigantic leap into the 22nd Century, (yes the 22nd Century), and Karachi has moved overnight from a town which shut down even its archaic Circular Railway to a Metropolis which will soon boast of the World’s first Magnetic Levitation (Maglev) Commercial train. All this thanks to a close relative of General Pervez Musharraf.

This miracle has been possible not because General Musharraf wants Karachi to become modern or overcome its public transport problems but because Brig (Retd) Aftab Siddiqi, the father-in-law of First Son Bilal Musharraf, wanted the US$298 million Maglev contract and got it.

The beauty of the deal is that by building the golden three miles of super fast Maglev Track, Musharraf’s relative would not just have pocketed almost 300 million dollars, he would have pushed Pakistan into the Guinness Book of Records for launching a project which even the pioneering countries France and Japan are reluctant to launch on a commercial basis. In Virginia US it is being run on an experimental basis in a University in Old Dominion (Pix Left).

Three days ago, on May 9, 2005 South Korea held a trial run for reporters. The train was an improved version used by 120,000 people at the 1993 Daejeon Expo. It has a peak speed of 110 kilometers per hour and can carry 135 people per compartment. Korea is planning to start Maglev trains for people In spring 2007 and will become the third nation to run train, after Germany and Japan.

German company Siemens is operating a high-speed Maglev train on a 32 kilometer track from downtown Shanghai, China to the Airport, and Japan is running an urban-style Maglev train on a 9-kilometer track within the Nagoya Aichi Expo site, similar to Korea. Both are experimental runs.

Korea's top company Rotem, which has been developing Maglev trains for 17 years from the days of its antecedent, Hyundai Motor Service, is deeply troubled. This is because as local governments pursue LRT subways, they are reluctant to select domestic Maglevs because it has never been operated before.

But for doing Karachi and Pakistan this huge favor, a series of rewards have been offered to this retired lucky Brigadier related to General Musharraf.

He will also get as part of the overall package colossal benefits. The Maglev Project given to him is not on Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis but on Ownership basis. He has been sanctioned one 450 MW [gas]-fired Power Plant. A Real Estate Development Commercial Loan of $100 million to his company will be guaranteed by Pakistan Government. A Non-Refundable Bank Guarantee of $60 million will be paid to his company to compensate for losses in the first 6 years of Maglev Project at $10 million per annum.

Above all, whatever he imports will be exempted from Customs or other duties and taxes. Whatever money he makes will be free of Income Tax.

It is another matter that even after such a platinum package, 99 per cent of Karachiites would still be hanging dangerously to diesel-emitting over-packed buses or waiting endlessly in traffic jams in the world’s most polluted environment.

The story of how Brig Siddiqi has landed another multi-billion contract, this time beating the friendly Chinese out of the race, is not just intriguing but fascinating and reminds analysts of the historic statement of Sheikh Yousuf, Chairman of Husnain Construction, the company which first hired Brig Siddiqi who used the Musharraf connection and turned his construction business into a gold minting machine. Yousuf achieved this just by paying a two per cent commission to this talented father-in-law of General Musharraf’s son.

On September 25, 2002, Yousuf talked to reporters at the site office of M-3 at Ghartal, Faisalabad According to a report in Daily Dawn, he was asked as to how much his company had been helped by Brig Aftab Siddiqi the useful father-in-law of Bilal Musharraf. Yousuf admitted that the gentleman had worked with his company as a consultant. Click to Read Full Dawn Report

Then he said: “It was originally agreed that he would get two per cent of the profit from the project for 25 years, but since the project had been converted to a government funded plan, Aftab Siddiqi was no longer with his company. The cost of M-3 is Rs7 billion.”

Yousuf also revealed that Mr Siddiqi “had been paid for the 'services' which he rendered,” but refused to give more details. “Everything was documented, and the payments to Mr Siddiqi had been made through checks, the copies of which had been provided to a number of government departments," he said.

Exactly at that moment his smart son rushed to the stage and asked Yousuf not to answer more queries on the subject, according to the Dawn report. He was obviously revealing State secrets and could get into serious trouble and the son realized that more than the father.

That was 2002 but Brig Siddiqi and Husnain Construction have never looked back. Already in the first years of General Musharraf's rule, this construction company, according to its Chairman, had acquired at least 12 sick mills from the Government.

But Siddiqi’s biggest catch has been in Karachi. The story of Maglev started with the City District Government of Karachi inviting Tenders on BOT Basis in October 2003 from the private sector to undertake the Karachi Mass Transit, Priority One Corridor.

Two tenders were received in November 2003, one from M/s American Maglev Technologies and other from a Chinese Company. The Chinese Company Tender was on finance cum construct basis for US $570 million, with long term credit on easy term made available by the Government of China.

But M/s American Maglev Technologies which did not submit even the required Bid Bond of US $1 million was awarded the Contract in December 2004. This was done by a Special Committee headed by a retired bureaucrat, Dr Akram Sheikh, the man planted for the job by the master-mind behind this manipulation, the father-in-law of the son of the President of Pakistan.

Siddiqi had contacted Dr Akram Sheikh who had retired as Federal Secretary. Sheikh is well known for his dubious past as he was suspended from service three times but was always able to work, or pay, his way out of the black hole.

Among the many examples of his reputation as a “Chaloo” officer (shrewd person) was the case of obtaining a 1000 square yards residential plot at half a million rupees from Karachi Port Trust in 1999. when the market price of this piece of land was Rs30 million.

Siddiqi reached a deal with Sheikh that he will be made Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission if he promised to award the contract of the Maglev Train to M/s American Maglev Technologies. The deal was done and Siddiqi got the orders of his appointment from General Musharraf.

But before the contract could be awarded, Siddiqi moved in as a partner of M/s American Maglev Technologies. All other partners were replaced with Siddiqi’s company M/s Infrastructure Development.

The contract winners had turned into the sons-in-law of the State of Pakistan by virtue of Siddiqi’s relationship with Musharraf. So much so that the $1 million Bid Bond which was to be submitted with the tender, was submitted 13 months late and that too neither by M/s American Maglev Technologies nor by M/s Infrastructure Development Company but by two Pakistani Contractors, M/s Techno Engineering Services (Pvt.) Limited and M/s Saadullah Khan & Brothers.

Siddiqi was promised and given concessions which experts quantified in dollar terms as horrendous. Adding all exemptions and $160 million Government and bank guarantees, this project will cost Pakistan over $900 million. In short, thanks to Siddiqi, poor Karachiites and the State of Pakistan will end by getting 3 miles of Maglev Train for $900 million.

On the face of it, the Maglev contract to Siddiqi would be of $300 million but these hidden costs would push the price to $900 million. As against this huge cost, China would have done the same job for around $500 million and that too on easy loans. But then how would Mr Siddiqi earn his millions.

According to the latest information, Siddiqi has again defaulted to sign the Contract Agreement within the time limit, which expired in March 2005, but thanks to you-know-who, he has managed to get another indefinite extension.

Not knowing how the wheels in Islamabad work and who was doing what behind the wheels, the innocent Mayor of Karachi Naimatullah Khan announced that the first phase of Corridor I Karachi Mass Transit Program (KMTP) would start by December 31, 2006 with a Magnetic Levitation Train.

Experts were aghast at the announcement as suddenly instead of improving the smoke detectors of Karachi buses, the Nazim had thrown Pakistan into the unknown future, while he himself is unable to determine whether he belongs to the past, present or the future.

The total length of the Maglev Train track is said to be 17 kilometers, from Sohrab Goth to Mereweather Tower. But is such a short stretch of rail worth deploying a super-technological invention which was still in its embryonic stages of development in the countries where it was invented.

There are no answers and no details available to the media or the Parliament but what is clear is that a contract of $300 million has been awarded to a Musharraf’s relative and he has been showered with a lot more concessions. Why all this generosity is yet to be determined.

Thats a pathetic article written by a Indian newspaper

I cant believe they constantly go offtopic to tell us what Mr. Brig (Retd) Aftab Siddiqi will get and its probaly not true anyway

Holy Crap !

Musharraf seems to be following the footsteps of Beznazir & Nazaq sharif :runaway:

http://www.satribune.com/archives/200505/P1_mas.htm

http://www.satribune.com/archives/200505/pix_mas.jpg

Musharraf's Relative Lands Another Super Duper Project of the Future

By M A Siddiqi

KARACHI, May 12: Pakistan has taken a gigantic leap into the 22nd Century, (yes the 22nd Century), and Karachi has moved overnight from a town which shut down even its archaic Circular Railway to a Metropolis which will soon boast of the World’s first Magnetic Levitation (Maglev) Commercial train. All this thanks to a close relative of General Pervez Musharraf.

This miracle has been possible not because General Musharraf wants Karachi to become modern or overcome its public transport problems but because Brig (Retd) Aftab Siddiqi, the father-in-law of First Son Bilal Musharraf, wanted the US$298 million Maglev contract and got it.

The beauty of the deal is that by building the golden three miles of super fast Maglev Track, Musharraf’s relative would not just have pocketed almost 300 million dollars, he would have pushed Pakistan into the Guinness Book of Records for launching a project which even the pioneering countries France and Japan are reluctant to launch on a commercial basis. In Virginia US it is being run on an experimental basis in a University in Old Dominion (Pix Left).

Three days ago, on May 9, 2005 South Korea held a trial run for reporters. The train was an improved version used by 120,000 people at the 1993 Daejeon Expo. It has a peak speed of 110 kilometers per hour and can carry 135 people per compartment. Korea is planning to start Maglev trains for people In spring 2007 and will become the third nation to run train, after Germany and Japan.

German company Siemens is operating a high-speed Maglev train on a 32 kilometer track from downtown Shanghai, China to the Airport, and Japan is running an urban-style Maglev train on a 9-kilometer track within the Nagoya Aichi Expo site, similar to Korea. Both are experimental runs.

Korea's top company Rotem, which has been developing Maglev trains for 17 years from the days of its antecedent, Hyundai Motor Service, is deeply troubled. This is because as local governments pursue LRT subways, they are reluctant to select domestic Maglevs because it has never been operated before.

But for doing Karachi and Pakistan this huge favor, a series of rewards have been offered to this retired lucky Brigadier related to General Musharraf.

He will also get as part of the overall package colossal benefits. The Maglev Project given to him is not on Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis but on Ownership basis. He has been sanctioned one 450 MW [gas]-fired Power Plant. A Real Estate Development Commercial Loan of $100 million to his company will be guaranteed by Pakistan Government. A Non-Refundable Bank Guarantee of $60 million will be paid to his company to compensate for losses in the first 6 years of Maglev Project at $10 million per annum.

Above all, whatever he imports will be exempted from Customs or other duties and taxes. Whatever money he makes will be free of Income Tax.

It is another matter that even after such a platinum package, 99 per cent of Karachiites would still be hanging dangerously to diesel-emitting over-packed buses or waiting endlessly in traffic jams in the world’s most polluted environment.

The story of how Brig Siddiqi has landed another multi-billion contract, this time beating the friendly Chinese out of the race, is not just intriguing but fascinating and reminds analysts of the historic statement of Sheikh Yousuf, Chairman of Husnain Construction, the company which first hired Brig Siddiqi who used the Musharraf connection and turned his construction business into a gold minting machine. Yousuf achieved this just by paying a two per cent commission to this talented father-in-law of General Musharraf’s son.

On September 25, 2002, Yousuf talked to reporters at the site office of M-3 at Ghartal, Faisalabad According to a report in Daily Dawn, he was asked as to how much his company had been helped by Brig Aftab Siddiqi the useful father-in-law of Bilal Musharraf. Yousuf admitted that the gentleman had worked with his company as a consultant. Click to Read Full Dawn Report

Then he said: “It was originally agreed that he would get two per cent of the profit from the project for 25 years, but since the project had been converted to a government funded plan, Aftab Siddiqi was no longer with his company. The cost of M-3 is Rs7 billion.”

Yousuf also revealed that Mr Siddiqi “had been paid for the 'services' which he rendered,” but refused to give more details. “Everything was documented, and the payments to Mr Siddiqi had been made through checks, the copies of which had been provided to a number of government departments," he said.

Exactly at that moment his smart son rushed to the stage and asked Yousuf not to answer more queries on the subject, according to the Dawn report. He was obviously revealing State secrets and could get into serious trouble and the son realized that more than the father.

That was 2002 but Brig Siddiqi and Husnain Construction have never looked back. Already in the first years of General Musharraf's rule, this construction company, according to its Chairman, had acquired at least 12 sick mills from the Government.

But Siddiqi’s biggest catch has been in Karachi. The story of Maglev started with the City District Government of Karachi inviting Tenders on BOT Basis in October 2003 from the private sector to undertake the Karachi Mass Transit, Priority One Corridor.

Two tenders were received in November 2003, one from M/s American Maglev Technologies and other from a Chinese Company. The Chinese Company Tender was on finance cum construct basis for US $570 million, with long term credit on easy term made available by the Government of China.

But M/s American Maglev Technologies which did not submit even the required Bid Bond of US $1 million was awarded the Contract in December 2004. This was done by a Special Committee headed by a retired bureaucrat, Dr Akram Sheikh, the man planted for the job by the master-mind behind this manipulation, the father-in-law of the son of the President of Pakistan.

Siddiqi had contacted Dr Akram Sheikh who had retired as Federal Secretary. Sheikh is well known for his dubious past as he was suspended from service three times but was always able to work, or pay, his way out of the black hole.

Among the many examples of his reputation as a “Chaloo” officer (shrewd person) was the case of obtaining a 1000 square yards residential plot at half a million rupees from Karachi Port Trust in 1999. when the market price of this piece of land was Rs30 million.

Siddiqi reached a deal with Sheikh that he will be made Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission if he promised to award the contract of the Maglev Train to M/s American Maglev Technologies. The deal was done and Siddiqi got the orders of his appointment from General Musharraf.

But before the contract could be awarded, Siddiqi moved in as a partner of M/s American Maglev Technologies. All other partners were replaced with Siddiqi’s company M/s Infrastructure Development.

The contract winners had turned into the sons-in-law of the State of Pakistan by virtue of Siddiqi’s relationship with Musharraf. So much so that the $1 million Bid Bond which was to be submitted with the tender, was submitted 13 months late and that too neither by M/s American Maglev Technologies nor by M/s Infrastructure Development Company but by two Pakistani Contractors, M/s Techno Engineering Services (Pvt.) Limited and M/s Saadullah Khan & Brothers.

Siddiqi was promised and given concessions which experts quantified in dollar terms as horrendous. Adding all exemptions and $160 million Government and bank guarantees, this project will cost Pakistan over $900 million. In short, thanks to Siddiqi, poor Karachiites and the State of Pakistan will end by getting 3 miles of Maglev Train for $900 million.

On the face of it, the Maglev contract to Siddiqi would be of $300 million but these hidden costs would push the price to $900 million. As against this huge cost, China would have done the same job for around $500 million and that too on easy loans. But then how would Mr Siddiqi earn his millions.

According to the latest information, Siddiqi has again defaulted to sign the Contract Agreement within the time limit, which expired in March 2005, but thanks to you-know-who, he has managed to get another indefinite extension.

Not knowing how the wheels in Islamabad work and who was doing what behind the wheels, the innocent Mayor of Karachi Naimatullah Khan announced that the first phase of Corridor I Karachi Mass Transit Program (KMTP) would start by December 31, 2006 with a Magnetic Levitation Train.

Experts were aghast at the announcement as suddenly instead of improving the smoke detectors of Karachi buses, the Nazim had thrown Pakistan into the unknown future, while he himself is unable to determine whether he belongs to the past, present or the future.

The total length of the Maglev Train track is said to be 17 kilometers, from Sohrab Goth to Mereweather Tower. But is such a short stretch of rail worth deploying a super-technological invention which was still in its embryonic stages of development in the countries where it was invented.

There are no answers and no details available to the media or the Parliament but what is clear is that a contract of $300 million has been awarded to a Musharraf’s relative and he has been showered with a lot more concessions. Why all this generosity is yet to be determined.
greg_christine, it's from an Indian news service and absolutely unreliable, as usual.

Holy Crap !

Musharraf seems to be following the footsteps of Beznazir & Nazaq sharif :runaway:
I hate it when Indians discuss Pakistani politics :bash:

It doesnt concern you fools


First of all its a Indian source which makes it unreliable and the report itself is pathetic and the worst piece of journalism i have ever read and i am sure many other forumers will agree with me on this point. 2nd of all your true nature is coming out

you always start fights you asshole

Firstly, IM, that wasn't cool. :ohno: Posts like that only cause trouble.

Secondly, South Asian tribune is very much a Pakistani paper. IIRC it was a consortium founded mostly by Pakistani journalists from various newspapers, and a couple Indian. It gives reporting on events in Southern Asia with a Pakistani perspective. Also, its author, M A Siddiqi, is a well-known Pakistani journalist and author.

Does the source being (allegedly) Indian newspaper change the reality ?
Will it change the fact Brig (Retd) Aftab Siddiqi is related to Gen.Musharaf and that he is fattening his bank balance with the Maglev Project ?

Does the source being (allegedly) Indian newspaper change the reality ?
Will it change the fact Brig (Retd) Aftab Siddiqi is related to Gen.Musharaf and that he is fattening his bank balance with the Maglev Project ?
The article shows no proof what so ever and the facts dont make sense. And the journalist was pathetic and was more intrested in the guy then the Maglav. Shitty Journalism

Firstly, IM, that wasn't cool. :ohno: Posts like that only cause trouble.

Secondly, South Asian tribune is very much a Pakistani paper. IIRC it was a consortium founded mostly by Pakistani journalists from various newspapers, and a couple Indian. It gives reporting on events in Southern Asia with a Pakistani perspective. Also, its author, M A Siddiqi, is a well-known Pakistani journalist and author.
No, you are wrong, South Asian Tribune is online Indian news service, completely run by the Indians, anyway good site to judge the attitude of Indian media towards Pakistan.

Spido no need to waste time with these rats

Interesting;
In view of later comments I have deleted the link as it appears that the news article MAY be biased

I'd like to offer my apologies to the forum members from Pakistan who were offended by the South Asia Tribune article. I should have checked further regarding the credibility of the source. There is no doubt that the South Asia Tribune is on a vendetta against the current Pakistani government. The following is list of some of the headlines on the home page ( www.satribune.com ):

"Musharraf's Farcical Theater of the Absurd"
"The Holy, Unholy Mess Created by Musharraf"
"Musharraf Will Have to Retire by November"
"Pakistan Media is Suppressed, Under Pressure"
"Musharraf's Dr Fake Caught in a Web of Lies"
"Musharraf's Generals Exposed by His Generals"
"Musharraf Needs Exit Strategy to Save Army"
"Zardari is Testing Musharraf at His Own Game"
"Musharraf's U-Turn on Kashmir is Capitulation"
"Musharraf Got Nothing in Forced Cricket Summit"

I still have concerns regarding the ability of American Maglev to execute the Karachi project. American Maglev's demonstration project at Old Dominion University remains mired in technical problems.

that article is complet shit just like all other Indian articles, india is just jeolous of Pakistan and thats why half of there papers everyday are full up with made up storeys about Pakistan doing this, doing that.

:rofl:

jealous... indeed... jealous of what???

i do not wish for this to become a trolling match, but if your anger is towards the article, please direct it to the article and not to indians in general. THat Siddiqi is not the Indian Prime Minister and is not a reperesentative of Indians in general.

I am not really against pakistanis, so dont take this too personally. I think the maglev proposal is a bit whack. Firslty, a 400km/h train is not going to help if there are stations avery couple of kms. and if the train's max speed is limited to around 100km/h, then a maglev would be pointless and something far cheaper like a metro or light rail should be taken up. Secondly, the cost of implimenting this project will need to be regained through fares, which will inevidably need to be sky-high and therefore too expensive for average comuters. a maglev is not suited inter-city commuting and should not be looked as as an alternative for a metro system.

:rofl:

jealous... indeed... jealous of what???

i do not wish for this to become a trolling match, but if your anger is towards the article, please direct it to the article and not to indians in general. THat Siddiqi is not the Indian Prime Minister and is not a reperesentative of Indians in general.

I am not really against pakistanis, so dont take this too personally. I think the maglev proposal is a bit whack. Firslty, a 400km/h train is not going to help if there are stations avery couple of kms. and if the train's max speed is limited to around 100km/h, then a maglev would be pointless and something far cheaper like a metro or light rail should be taken up. Secondly, the cost of implimenting this project will need to be regained through fares, which will inevidably need to be sky-high and therefore too expensive for average comuters. a maglev is not suited inter-city commuting and should not be looked as as an alternative for a metro system.


I agree. Now I think it would be good if it were implemented as a route to the airport. Like having a "satellite" check in center downtown in a city then the train speeds you off to the airport.

Light rail looks like a better option for what's going on here but I think someone pointed out that maitainence on maglev is very low so maybe this is why they're looking into it.

Thats a pathetic article written by a Indian newspaper

I cant believe they constantly go offtopic to tell us what Mr. Brig (Retd) Aftab Siddiqi will get and its probaly not true anyway

Stop Claiming that its an Indian newspaper. The Indian Newspaper with a similar name is "The Tribune" and its website is www.tribuneindia.com. The article was very much from a Pakistani source. Follow the link to find out the origin of satribune: http://www.satribune.com/aboutus.htm

South Asia Tribune is the concept and creation of Mr Shaheen Sehbai, a veteran Pakistani journalist of over 30 years standing. He is known in Pakistan and internationally as an independent and courageous journalist, who faced, confronted and exposed corruption in government, politics, business and journalism.

Mr Sehbai’s life and career has been a continuous battle against corrupt elected and non-elected politicians, self-imposed military dictators, wily bureaucrats, twisted business tycoons and compromising ambitious journalists. Throughout his career he faced challenges, physical attacks, government persecution and even a botched murder attempt.

In August 1990 he was arrested and fake cases were registered against him. Government-manipulated media declared him an enemy agent. He was tried in a court on trumped-up charges but acquitted honorably in December 1990.

In 1991 his house was raided by masked men who pulled out pistols and threatened his sons, challenging them to ask their father to write against the Government again and see the consequences. The attack caused a nation-wide uproar and protest demonstrations by Pakistani journalists. An attempt to run him over in his car was made in 1994 by a military truck but he survived and continued to write the truth and pinpoint corruption.

Numerous times he confronted elected politicians and military dictators, face to face and in his writings. His courage to speak out against the corrupt always raised his stature and he climbed from a reporter in 1990 to Islamabad Bureau Chief of Pakistan’s leading Daily "Dawn" in 1993, to its Washington Bureau Chief in 1995 and then as Editor of "The News", owned by the country’s largest media group and published from four cities, Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and London (UK), five years later.

As Editor, he proved to be fiercely independent and continued to expose the weaknesses of the Government and its corruption. When in 2001 he published the first billion-rupee scam of the Musharraf Government, the Pakistani General was furious and immediately punished his newspaper by blocking all advertisements and government revenues. The scam took place under the Labor Ministry and shortly afterwards the Labor Minister, Omar Asghar Khan, resigned from the Musharraf cabinet. This former minister committed suicide in June 2002 in mysterious circumstances amid speculations that he was being hounded or haunted by the billion-rupee scam under his ministership.

Nothing could shake Mr Sehbai though. He refused to follow the orders, persuasions or pleas of Government media managers. In February 2002, Mr Sehbai published stories on the kidnapping and killing of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl and the military government decided to move against his newspaper, found an excuse and declared that Mr Sehbai was acting against Pakistan’s national interest. He rejected their charge but resigned in early March 2002, as his owners could no longer face the financial sanctions and a total blockade of government revenues.

A storm of criticism broke out as Mr. Sehbai wisely left the country fearing threats to his life. His resignation received wide international coverage and shocked the world media as General Pervez Musharraf’s claims of allowing a free press were challenged. All major US TV channels including CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, CNBC interviewed him. He is probably the only journalist in the Third World, on whom the CNN International telecast a full 30-minute program in its Q&A series, on March 19, 2002, focusing on the issue of Freedom of Press in Pakistan under General Pervez Musharraf.

Influential newspapers like the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times and Financial Times publish Mr. Sehbai’s opinion pieces, who has moved to the United States. The South Asia Tribune and Mr. Sehbai is widely quoted by South Asian, regional and international media.

keep on dreaming.

Spido no need to waste time with these rats

I do not think that this is a suitable manner for a moderator to conduct himself.

:no:

이 파키스탄 사람 암컷

^^Amo bitxofo.^^
¿?
:eek2:

To the people that are criticizing this project because it is a low-speed urban maglev line, I would recommend reading up on the other great benefits of this technology. They kick the crap out of subway technology and LRT as well (except LRT can merge with road traffic if in a pinch, Maglev obviously can't do that , but still), pretty much any railway technology to date. Certainly more reliable than that rubber-tire garbage and vastly more sociable than noisy other technologies with the added bonus of likely providing a more comfortable ride as it is frictionless.

Who's the genius that said Maglev is expensive to maintain? Maglev is expensive to build, that is its worst enemy at the moment, but the capital costs are recouped in its near-non-existant maintanance. A frictionless system doesn't experience wear-and-tear, UNLESS it is travelling in excess of a certain speed, then the dynamics change and you have a whole different monster.

The biggest hassle and largest cost of any rail operation is its maintenance. Maglev would be the exception. Forget the high-speed maglev, unless you are going to put it in a vacuum! The open-air maglev technology is probably best-suited for surface urban transportation and a whole new world of innovation not previously possible with railway environments.

With 2 billion $ you can build almost all of the subway system of a city. I think this Maglev project is not what Karachi needs.

Would be great if Karachi gets Maglev!!

Would be great if Karachi gets Maglev!!

If Karachi is serious about building a maglev transit line, they need to contract with a company that is more credible than American Maglev Technology (AMT). Both CHSST/Linimo of Japan and Rotem of South Korea have successfully demonstrated maglev transit trains. AMT's demonstration project at Old Dominion University (ODU) remains mired in technical problems.

The original control system for the ODU line was unable to achieve stable levitation. The project has now devolved into a research effort. Experiments have been conducted with a new control system. Stable levitation was achieved when the train was located over a column; however, the control system caused the guideway to vibrate when the train was positioned between columns.

I took the following pictures at ODU this past summer. The train was at one end of the line with the skirt removed, persumably to facilitate modifications to the levitation system:

http://www.geocities.com/greg_vassilakos/oduml/oduml1.jpg

The structure of the guideway is complete; however, only a short section is outfitted with levitation rails. The stations were never completed. One half-completed station was demolished because it was considered to be a hazard. The following picture shows a section of the guideway without levitation rails crossing Hampton Boulevard:

http://www.geocities.com/greg_vassilakos/oduml/oduml2.jpg

I haven't seen any recent news updates about the Karachi maglev project. The AMT website < http://www.american-maglev.com/projects/projects.htm > still reports that they intend to finalize an agreement in early 2006 and break ground in mid-2006.

Maybe a normal subway should be a priority in Karachi.

With 2 billion $ you can build almost all of the subway system of a city. I think this Maglev project is not what Karachi needs.
BS! Total dreamworld. 2billion bucks will only go 5-10 km of tunneling, look at Toronto and Tokyo for how bloody expensive it is to construct subways. Subway maintenance would be considerably more costly than a surface maglev line as well. Even with a higher capital cost for maglev, maintenance savings will recover those expenses (multiple times) as the system ages.

What is the number of people this system is likely to carry everyday?

The problem with maglev trains is that they're incompatible with any other train systems. In cities that already have a regular subway system or railway it doesn't make sense to install a maglev system because of the incompatibility. But a city with minimal infrastructure is a place where it really makes sense to build a maglev.

what is the cost per kilometer of a Maglev line? please somebody help me :(

BS! Total dreamworld. 2billion bucks will only go 5-10 km of tunneling, look at Toronto and Tokyo for how bloody expensive it is to construct subways. Subway maintenance would be considerably more costly than a surface maglev line as well. Even with a higher capital cost for maglev, maintenance savings will recover those expenses (multiple times) as the system ages.

That's not true. In Istanbul it costs 30-45 million $ per km. Probably it will cost cheaper in Pakistan. I guess they would build at least 70-80 km subway with that amount of money.

I find it hard to believe that the development and maintainence of a maglev is cheaper than traditional rail. If that were true, a lot of the old systems would be phased out.

I am sure the proposal is serious, but I wont believe it till I see it. Regardless on what they build, it will be the level of convenience that the train offers to the most Pakistanis that will measure its success.

Who gives a shit what it looks like? You want to look good, get a nice car.

Build the subway.......

I am a Karachiite and Maglev is certainly not what the city needs. Especially from the American Maglev consortium. At this point in time, it would not be efficient because the technology certainly has a lot of glitches, and would definitely not be a wise choice for the city. I am glad the city authorities seem to have realised this. Heres a recent news article:

PC accepts Mustafa’s proposal on KMTP

By our correspondent

KARACHI: The Federal Planning Commission (PC) has accepted the proposal of City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal that the works on Karachi Mass Transit Program (KMTP) should be carried out with the existing technology instead of using any new methods.

Mustafa feared that if a new technology was adopted the Karachi Mass Transit Program might not prove successful. The commission held a high-level meeting in Islamabad on Saturday under the chairmanship of Dr Akram Sheikh following a letter sent to him by Mustafa Kamal.

The Karachi Nazim, in his letter to the commission, had stated that the companies which submitted their bids for the completion of Karachi Mass Transit Programme on built own and transfer (BOT) basis had given an indication of using latest technology which was not yet used elsewhere in the world.

Mustafa said it would therefore be in the fitness of things to use the existing technology for the purpose, adding the peculiar transport problem of Karachi did not allow to use any untested technology in order to achieve desired results. The companies which have submitted tenders have also accepted the proposal of City Nazim.

http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/nov2...05/metro/k6.htm

I find it hard to believe that the development and maintainence of a maglev is cheaper than traditional rail. If that were true, a lot of the old systems would be phased out.

I am sure the proposal is serious, but I wont believe it till I see it. Regardless on what they build, it will be the level of convenience that the train offers to the most Pakistanis that will measure its success.

Who gives a shit what it looks like? You want to look good, get a nice car.
Maintenance of maglev is vastly cheaper than traditional rail, for the simple following fact: Maglev is frictionless.
A basic law/principle of mechanical physics is that of wear-and-tear caused by friction in various forms (static friction, kinetic friction, braking friction, there's another type for taking curves (centripetal? (spelling?))), which cause mechanical components and physical infrastructure to get damaged with time as a result of enduring the stresses imposed by friction. Maglev, immune to friction (which is the effective pillar of the technology), is supposed to require vastly less maintenance than traditional rail making it hugely cheaper in upkeep (maintenance is the most expensive portion of any traditional railway operation).
This is true, but the reason systems aren't being phased-out or replaced is simple: The old technology isn't necessarily broken (even if inferior). It still works, and does the job it is supposed to (it just grows more expensive with age). Replacement would be extremely complicated and not worth the gains or costs, because while maglev is very cheap to maintain, it is very expensive to establish in its capital costs, which is why there is a very large reluctance from everybody in testing the technology. Solutions to this rather serious hurdle are developing, and progress has been made in the past, to the point where live tests have actually appeared in small (and not necessarily good) permanent ways.
In the long-term cost picture, a maglev is in the best interest of any transport agency and metropolis. There are other benefits beyond cost as well that can help the city keep its options open with planning of the system.

How much is a Maglev per km??

^^ 60 million dollars per mile in the Shanghai's maglev... the cheapest up today.

Estimated cost of a Tokyo-Osaka line $82 billion dollars

Estimated cost of a London-Glasgow line $51 billion dollars

18 km route in downtown Karachi.

This initial transit project is the first of at least six (6) intended phases of mass transit deployment in Karachi , with a completed development cost in excess of US $ 2 billion.




to expensive for only 18 km... :sleepy:

Maintenance of maglev is vastly cheaper than traditional rail, for the simple following fact: Maglev is frictionless.
A basic law/principle of mechanical physics is that of wear-and-tear caused by friction in various forms (static friction, kinetic friction, braking friction, there's another type for taking curves (centripetal? (spelling?))), which cause mechanical components and physical infrastructure to get damaged with time as a result of enduring the stresses imposed by friction. Maglev, immune to friction (which is the effective pillar of the technology), is supposed to require vastly less maintenance than traditional rail making it hugely cheaper in upkeep (maintenance is the most expensive portion of any traditional railway operation).
This is true, but the reason systems aren't being phased-out or replaced is simple: The old technology isn't necessarily broken (even if inferior). It still works, and does the job it is supposed to (it just grows more expensive with age). Replacement would be extremely complicated and not worth the gains or costs, because while maglev is very cheap to maintain, it is very expensive to establish in its capital costs, which is why there is a very large reluctance from everybody in testing the technology. Solutions to this rather serious hurdle are developing, and progress has been made in the past, to the point where live tests have actually appeared in small (and not necessarily good) permanent ways.
In the long-term cost picture, a maglev is in the best interest of any transport agency and metropolis. There are other benefits beyond cost as well that can help the city keep its options open with planning of the system.

Interesting concept, however, reality states otherwise.

Cheap to maintain?????? Lets ask the boys in Shanghai about that one. Afterall, they are the only ones that have any actual expirience running a maglev for commercial purposes. Everything else at this point is just theory and mental masterbation.

Interesting concept, however, reality states otherwise.

Cheap to maintain?????? Lets ask the boys in Shanghai about that one. Afterall, they are the only ones that have any actual expirience running a maglev for commercial purposes. Everything else at this point is just theory and mental masterbation.
What was a concept in my last post?

Anyway, about Shanghai's maglev; No, the Shanghai type is irrelevant in this argument, that's a high-speed open-air maglev, a completely different ballgame. One thing maglev is not immune to is air-resistance, unless operated in a vaccuum tunnel (in which a maglev could easily outrun any commercial aircraft, it would be nearly twice as fast as the late Concord (RIP)). The air-resistance that occurce once you pass something around 300km/h negates many of maglev's benefits, which will cause problems and require maintenance. Shanghai's high-speed route would have probably been better off with Shinkansen technology considering the very short distance of the route and the fact that the Shinkansen technology is also capable of reaching speeds of 400km/h (soon to be operating on the Tohoku Line between Tokyo and Hokkaido at a commercial speed of 370km/h, with trains called Fast-Tech). It is difficult to say which technology is cheaper to maintain on the Shanghai angle.
The type of project being discussed here is a metro, not a high-speed case, which makes the Shanghai comparison completely void and useless because the same operating conditions do not apply at all.
The better comparison would be the Limino in Nagoya. Its case should be similar to that of this topic. It's only a sample, but it is the best relevant example available.

I am not familar with the Limino in Nagoya.

My point is, while you may be right, there are few built examples to back up your theory. On the otherhand, steel wheels on rails are a proven technology which would serve Karachi well.

I am not familar with the Limino in Nagoya.

My point is, while you may be right, there are few built examples to back up your theory. On the otherhand, steel wheels on rails are a proven technology which would serve Karachi well.
Agreed, any technology can serve Karachi well, it is starting from scratch.
The thing with maglev though, is that it hasn't gotten its chance at proving itself. Yes, there's a Shanghai model running, but what's unfortunate about that is that it proves that the limits of open-air highspeed travel in ground-level's atmospheric conditions - even aircraft travel faster only when the atmosphere thins. Trying to break that limit is a stunt that will prove costly. This is why high-speed maglev projects should strongly consider vaccuum tunnels, but that is a large monster with more new problems to solve (but if solved, could indeed provide crippling competition against the aircraft). In the meantime, the metro-style model/application of the maglev seems to be the most appealing and beneficial from various perspectives, rather than open-air super-high-speed routes, IMO.

In theory, they could build the maglev under the ground like a subway so it would be out of the way.

In theory, they could build the maglev under the ground like a subway so it would be out of the way.
Of course they could. Most forms of transportation can be shoved underground (monorail as well). However, maglev doesn't need to be - it doesn't create the noise that gets nimby's up in arms, which conventional rail does cause. This can make for attractive, creative, and integrated environments with good accessibility without social damage by such factors as noise. One would also probably want to weigh the accessibility of the system underground vs surface vs elevated. The problem with subways is that, if dug too deep (my favourite examples being the Oedo Line in general, and the Rinkai Line at Oimachi Station, both in Tokyo), lose their appeal. No one likes endless stairs/escalators nor long waits for elevators. Elevators and escalators are also expensive facilities in both capital and upkeep. Karachi is building their first system, so they probably can allow shallow subways, and as such would be worth considering, but it depends on the route planned, and if large buildings obstruct the path, causing the subway to go deeper.

Out of the way isn't necessarily a positive thing. If the system is out of your way, are you going to ride?