Emsland test facility

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Emsland Test Facility

Locale	Emsland
Transit type	maglev
Began operation	1984
System length	31.5 kilometres
Number of lines	1
Number of stations	1
Operator(s)	Transrapid International

The Emsland Transrapid Test Facility (TVE) is a testing site for Transrapid trains in Emsland. The single track line runs between Dörpen and Lathen. Turning loops are at each end. The track is elevated for almost its entire length to allow continued farming and grazing of the land occupied.

Until the 2006 Lathen maglev train accident the trains often carried paying passengers, possibly to 'show off' the maglev trains. They regularly ran at up to 420 km/h. All runs, including those with passengers, were fully monitored, with the last car in the three car trains filled with monitoring computers and engineers.

The construction began in 1980.

The track was the site of the 2006 Lathen maglev train accident.