Dear visitors,
on July 10th, 1998 the Transrapid-Freundeskreis (Transrapid Circle of Friends) was founded in Stadland-Rodenkirchen. To make as many people as possible come alive for this transportation system, is the circle of friendship's goal. This is the way, to take down prejudgements and fears (German Angst). Unfortunately, TRANSRAPID is deuced by some citizen initiatives and political formations in the same matter like at that time the automobile and the railway. This happens in Germany despite the fact that the TRANSRAPID is the safest and the most environment-friendly transportation system of all time. Short-haul flights can be eliminated between two areas connected by the TRANSRAPID. This can lead to a considerable reduction of air pollution.On June 9th, 2000 the circle of friendship converted into a registered association for the advancement of maglev technologies (Transrapid), named
"Gesellschaft zur Förderung der
Magnetschwebetechnologie (Transrapid) e. V." (GFM)
. This also took place in Stadland-Rodenkirchen with the presence of 13 foundation members.
Everybody, who wants to do something more for the realization of TRANSRAPID-Projects in Europe than
only express some sympathy, is welcome as member.
Sincerly
Günter Schäfer (translated by: Michael Dittmer)
The association was registered with the organization register Hamburg about the notary's office at the Alstertor (Dr. Henning Voscherau) for the district court Hamburg among 69 VR 16646 when charitable. First long term chair man was Friedich Wilhelm Merck.
The recognition of the benefit to the public by the tax office has been carried out.
The GFM has cooperated with citizens' action group "Pro Transrapid" at Perleberg (state of Brandenburg) which gave one name of our internet presence.
Thanks to the educational work of this citizens' action group, the planned Transrapid route Hamburg-Berlin found a high acceptance and a petition for a referendum against the maglev initiated of greenery, Socialist Party (PDS) and various environmental associations could officially be declared for Brandenburg failed on March 3rd, 1998.
Goal of the GFM is the optimization of the conventional rail/wheel system with speeds up to 200 km/h, e.g. by intelligent telematics systems; for higher speed areas the magnetic leviatation technology shall be Europe-wide used.
The GFM creates studies for scientific purposes.
Following the decommissioning of the last Transrapid TR09 and its sale to the descendants of inventor Hermann Kemper, the company was renamed to
"Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Magnetschwebetechnologie e. V." (GFM-eV).
It now focuses on supporting the Transport System Bögl (TSB), but is also committed to maintaining the TVE for future test operations.
The GFM also supports maglev systems basing of levitation based on superconducting materials above permanent magnets like the SupraTrans at KIT Karlsruhe.
The GFM recommends the use of free software for the common good and also provides assistance with installations. It is against the monitoring and tracking of passengers on “all types of trains” in order to create personality profiles. In other words, it particularly does not want to see such established surveillance technologies and methods in a maglev train that is realized at some point in the future.
You can download this declaration (german) here.
With our social media presence on Fediverse (in german), we have been helping to create a range of information geared towards the common good since August 15th, 2018. In doing so, we are supporting point 4 of the manifesto of the "Save Social" initiative. It was launched on February 11, 2025 in the Publix building in Berlin-Neukölln and was able to collect 30,000 signatures after just two and a half days.
II GFM-eV - members of the executive committee (as of 11.11.2023):
Dr. Friedrich Christian von Loeper: Chairman
E-Mail: drfc-vloeper "at" pro-transrapid.org
Michael Dittmer: Deputy Chairman
E-Mail: dittmer "at" pro-transrapid.org
Markus Plath: Secretary
E-Mail: plath "at" pro-transrapid.org