THE MIDDLE EAST. The tipping culture is often complex and subtle in this part of the world. It's known for being very friendly and hospitable, with people providing too much service, says Rita Zawaideh, the Jordanian-born owner of Seattle's Caravan-Serai Tours, which plans trips to the region.
Maglev operating costs will be only 3 cents per passenger mile and 7 cents per ton mile, compared to 15 cents per passenger mile for airplanes, and 30 cents per ton mile for intercity trucks.1) Much lower guideway cost$12 million per mile, compared to $40 million to $60 million per mile. (2) Much faster payback times5 years instead of 50, by carrying piggyback trucks. (3) Electronic switching of vehicles at high speeds from the main guideway to off-line stations for loading and unloading.
The Shanghai Maglev Train (or Shanghai Transrapid) is a maglev line that operates in Shanghai, China. It is the first commercially operated high-speed magnetic levitation line in the world. The original plan to extend the maglev line to create the BeijingâShanghai High-Speed Railway was eventually shelved in favour of conventional high-speed technology, leaving the existing 30km maglev line between Pudong International Airport and Longyang Road, Pudong. Construction of the SMT line began in March 1, 2001, and on 1 January 2004 it began test operations. The top operational speed of the train is 431 km/h, making it the world's fastest train in regular commercial service since its opening in April 2004. During a non-commercial test run on 12