linear motors for the Moscow Monorail system. Birmingham, United Kingdom, 1984–1995 The world's first commercial maglev system was a low-speed maglev shuttle that ran between the airport terminal of Birmingham International Airport and the nearby Birmingham International railway station between 1984 and 1995. Its track length was , and trains levitated at an altitude of , levitated by electromagnets, and propelled with linear induction motors. It operated for 11 years and was initially very popular with passengers, but obsolescence problems with the electronic systems made it progressively unreliable as years passed, leading to its closure in 1995. One of the original cars is now on display at Railworld in Peterborough, together with the RTV31 hover train vehicle. Another is on display at the National Railway Museum in York. Several favourable conditions existed when the link was built: The British Rail Research vehicle was 3 tonnes and extension to the 8-tonne vehicle was easy. Electrical power was available. The airport and rail buildings were suitable for terminal platforms. Only one crossing over a public road was required and no steep gradients were involved. Land was owned by the railway or airport. Local industries and councils were supportive. Some government finance was provided and because of sharing work, the cost per organization was low. After the system closed in 1995, the original guideway lay dormant until 2003, when a replacement cable-hauled system, the AirRail Link Cable Liner people mover, was opened. Emsland, Germany, 1984–2012 Transrapid, a German maglev company, had a test track in Emsland with a total length of . The single-track line ran between Dörpen and Lathen with turning loops at each end. The trains regularly ran at up to . Paying passengers were carried as part of the testing process. The construction of the test facility began in 1980 and finished in 1984. In 2006, the Lathen maglev train accident occurred, killing 23 people. It was found to have been caused by human error in implementing safety checks. From 2006 no passengers were carried. At the end of 2011 the operation licence expired and was not renewed, and in early 2012 demolition permission was given for its facilities, including the track and factory. In March 2021 it was reported the CRRC was investigating reviving the Emsland test track. In May 2019 CRRC had unveiled its 'CRRC 600' prototype which is designed to reach . Vancouver, Canada and Hamburg, Germany,