Italy: Ironbox, a start-up company developing post-wheel technologies, tested a proprietary technology, Ironlev, on a two km section of the existing route between Adria and Mestre, Italy.
A 1 t prototype bogie successfully traversed the reference track at a speed of 70 km/h. The next objectives include a test in which a vehicle weighing up to 20 t will reach speeds of up to 200 km/h.
The autonomous passive magnetic bogie Ironlev. Source: IronLev
Ironlev does not require any modifications to railway lines already in use. Four U-shaped permanent magnets on the bogie create an air gap between the railway and the vehicle. Electric motors on the bogie turn wheels that act as stops and prevent the vehicle from derailing.
Nevomo, a start-up company from Poland, also tested a passive magnetic cushion bogie in 2023. Although the vehicle was able to reach a speed of 135 km/h on a 720 m track, their technology requires modifications to existing railway tracks.
