Summary:
The Transcontinental Maglev is a high-speed transportation system on Amargosa, designed to connect major population centers and industrial hubs across the planet’s primary continent. Built to facilitate rapid movement of people and goods, the maglev represents the height of colonial infrastructure, linking cities such as Lansdorp and the agricultural districts, as well as providing critical access to the Gene Cernan Spaceport before the invasion.
Capable of reaching speeds exceeding 600 kph, the Transcontinental Maglev uses advanced electromagnetic levitation and propulsion technologies standard across developed colonies in the Compact. Its efficiency made it a vital artery for commerce and emergency evacuation during the early stages of the invasion.
However, the maglev network suffers catastrophic disruption during the invasion of Amargosa. Sabotage and direct attacks by the invaders cripple the system, severing vital links between cities and cutting off escape routes for thousands of civilians. Bridges are destroyed, power systems disabled, and control centers overrun. Refugees attempting to use the maglev to flee are left stranded, contributing to the chaos in places like Lansdorp.
The collapse of the Transcontinental Maglev marks a symbolic and practical turning point in the defense of Amargosa — the end of rapid response capabilities and the descent into fragmented, isolated resistance.
Notes:
- Key links included Lansdorp, the spaceport, and major agricultural districts.
- Destroyed or disabled early in the invasion, exacerbating refugee crises.
- Represents both the technological advancement and vulnerability of colonial infrastructure.
- Its destruction isolates population centers, forcing survivors to rely on slower, local ground vehicles and foot travel.
Appearances: Gimme Shelter, The Children of Amargosa, Storming Amargosa, “Lizzy,” “The Cephalopods“