Norfolk, VA
Stop on the proposed 17,000-mile maglev network. Next stop: Chesapeake, VA (5.7 mi).
About Norfolk
Norfolk is a ceremonial county in England, located in the East of England and East Anglia. It borders Lincolnshire and The Wash to the north-west, the North Sea to the north and east, Cambridgeshire to the west, and Suffolk to the south. The largest settlement is the city of Norwich.
Source: Wikipedia summary (full article). Population and facts as published there.
Cost breakdown (proposal-scale estimates — see math)
| Item | Basis | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal construction | Large city — metro tier (range $2–4B) | $3B |
| Land acquisition | Regional factor 1.5× on $200M base | $300M |
| Track: Norfolk → Chesapeake | 5.7 mi × $500M/mi | $2.9B |
| Annual operations (share) | Staffing, power, maintenance | $60M/yr |
| Stop total (excl. annual ops) | $6.2B |
Best terminal location (proposed)
Harbor Park, adjacent to the Tide light rail terminus. Harbor Park sits at the eastern end of the Tide light rail line, with waterfront land the city has long eyed for redevelopment. The site gives the maglev a direct rail connection into downtown Norfolk and the naval base workforce, with ferry and bus links across Hampton Roads.
Before / after
Aerial mock-up (illustrative, not an engineering rendering). Left: the proposed site today. Right: with the maglev terminal.
- South Norfolk (Chesapeake) — historic district on the rail line.
- Berkley (Norfolk) — waterfront neighborhood across the Eastern Branch.
- Greenbrier (Chesapeake) — major commercial and employment node.