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Research into floating maglev trains has been ongoing in Germany and Japan since the early 70s, but the vision remains one of the most alluring sci fi concepts. Perhaps not for too much longer. China has since 2002 run a commercial maglev from Shanghai airport to the city centre. Based on repelling magnets on train and track, no wheels, no motor, the trains are easily capable of 300mph, and could in the future reach 600mph (faster than a Boeing 777). Silent apart from a whoosh, cows apparently do not pause from their grazing when a maglev passes through the field at 300mph.