Caphiria Express Lionized Electric Rail
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Caphiria Express Lionized Electric Rail (CELER), colloquially referred to as the Express or Express Rail, is a network of high-speed maglev railway lines operating in the Imperium of Caphiria. CELER was designed for long-distance travel across the Imperium and to aid economic growth and development in more rural areas. Beyond long-distance travel, some sections around the largest metropolitan areas are used as a commuter rail network. The network is operated through a joint venture between several private companies and the Office of Railroad Administration, a function of the Ministry of Infrastructure.
| CELER | |
 | |
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| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Main region(s) |  Caphiria |
| Headquarters | Venceia, Caphiria |
| Dates of operation | 1 July 1992–present |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (standard gauge) |
| Operating speed | 1,000 kilometres per hour (620 mph) |
CELER's origins are rooted in the Occidental Cold War, where it began as a governmental response to the growing spread of the Levantine Creep conspiracy theory during the 1960s: in the event of a hypothetical catastrophic event that leveled Caphiria, the government needed a way to connect to every city in the country, no matter how far away. Under the guise of a sudden national effort to rapidly modernize and expand Caphiria's high-speed rail systems across the country, the government of Caphiria fielded proposals from both the public and private sectors. Policy planners debated the necessity and economic viability of a high-speed rail; supporters argued that high-speed rail would boost future economic growth, and opponents noted that high-speed rail in other countries was expensive and mostly unprofitable. Calocas Mavolizza - an engineer from the Equite class, won with his "induttore" concept, which would form the backbone technology of CELER.
Since 1992, CELER has carried over 10 billion passengers without a single passenger fatality or injury on board due to derailments or collisions. CELER is one of the world's most extensively used railway services, and with a maximum speed of 1,000 kmh (620 mph) it operates the fastest commercial electric train in the world and has set numerous speed records.
History
Technology
The AREX System, also known as simply AREX, is the core technology behind the maglev railway network.The system relies on magnetic levitation, allowing the trains to hover above the guideway, significantly reducing friction and noise while improving overall efficiency and passenger comfort.
Guideway
The Guideway is an essential component of the AREX System, providing the stable and efficient foundation necessary for the high-speed operation of the trains. The guideway consists of two sets of parallel, elevated tracks, designed to support the magnetic levitation, propulsion, and stabilization of the train. Advanced materials and technologies have been incorporated into the guideway's design to ensure durability, safety, and efficiency. The guideway structure is made from reinforced concrete, incorporating advanced materials such as ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) and carbon fiber reinforcement. These materials provide the guideway with exceptional strength and durability, enabling it to withstand the high dynamic loads and stresses experienced during high-speed maglev operation. Additionally, the elevated design of the guideway helps to minimize the impact on the environment and reduces the risk of potential obstacles or hazards.
Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) is a class of advanced cementitious material characterized by its exceptional compressive and tensile strengths, as well as its high durability. UHPC incorporates fine powders, such as silica fume, and high-strength steel or carbon fibers, which contribute to its enhanced mechanical properties. The use of UHPC in AREX ensures long-lasting performance and minimal maintenance requirements. The guideway features arrays of electromagnets, known as guideway magnets, placed at regular intervals on both the upper and lower sections of the tracks. These magnets are made from high-performance rare-earth materials, such as neodymium-iron-boron and samarium-cobalt, which provide strong and consistent magnetic fields necessary for the levitation and stabilization of the train. The magnets are encapsulated in protective housings to shield them from environmental factors and ensure their long-term reliability.