JR Central officials say that's precisely the reason why they are doing everything to keep costs down.
While maglevs use three times more energy than shinkansen, the operational and maintenance costs are significantly lower, said JR Central's Seki.
The maglev is also computer-operated, so it doesn't need a driver and it is expected to carry more passengers and log greater daily distances than current shinkansen trains.
"We are confident the maglev will be realized," said Seki, adding that a 1973 law already approves a second shinkansen line between Tokyo and Osaka in anticipation of overcapacity on the first line and to serve as insurance against an earthquake.
"The government must change its investment priority."
Satoru Sone, an engineering professor at Kogakuin University believes commercialization of the maglev would be possible if the infrastructure costs fell to between five to six trillion yen, or about 35 percent lower than current estimates.
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