Grant awarded for Pa. magnetic-rail project

PITTSBURGH - The federal government is awarding $28 million for a high-speed magnetic-rail project that would ultimately link Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

Maglev technology uses magnetic forces to propel a vehicle over a guideway at 250 m.p.h. But there are few commercial maglev trains operating worldwide. Japan and Shanghai, China, have them.

Sen. Arlen Specter (D., Pa.) said the Pennsylvania High-Speed Maglev Project could create thousands of jobs in the steel and construction industries. Sen. Bob Casey (D., Pa.) said the Federal Railroad Administration grant more than doubles the federal funding the project has gotten since 1999.

The grant will pay for pre-engineering work, financial estimates, an independent cost analysis, and other work. - AP