The good news is, both of these journeys could soon be possible. All it needs is to travel at speeds of up to 450 kilometres an hour (km/h), and the technology for it now exists in the form of magnetic levitation (maglev), the fastest ground transportation system in the world and a possible candidate for implementation in the GCC.

It may still be early days, but the latest maglev technology - developed by German firms ThyssenKrupp and Siemens - is among the alternatives being studied at preliminary level by an all-German group comprising Dornier Consulting, DE Consult and the implementing agency for technical co-operation Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ). Commissioned by the Abu Dhabi Department of Planning & Economy in January, the prefeasibility study's findings will, on completion in May, offer a basic idea on freight, cargo and passenger rail transportation options for the UAE while also taking into consideration traffic flows in neighbouring countries.

While the study will primarily evaluate the potential of setting up a conventional freight and cargo rail network in the UAE and beyond, it also looks into the possible benefits of setting up a high-speed passenger system. The reason is clear. With the number of cars in Dubai alone growing at a rate of 12 per cent a year, the city's infrastructure is being stretched to the limit while the patience of drivers is also being put to the test as growing congestion increases travel times from one week to the next.

Neighbouring Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, like most other cities in the region, are facing similar problems. Improving public transportation is thought to be one way of reducing the pressure on the streets, and bringing a high-speed railway such as the Transrapid system to the region could bring about significant relief, in particular on inter-city routes.

Transrapid technology emerged as a potential alternative to conventional modes of high-speed passenger rail transport two years ago following the full commissioning of the world's first-ever commercial maglev line in Shanghai in December 2003. The Shanghai Transrapid connects Shanghai Pudong, close to downtown Shanghai, with the city's Pudong International Airport at speeds of about 430 km/h. Journey times between the two stops, equivalent to the 30-kilometre trip between Dubai and Sharjah, average about eight minutes. A total of three trains operate on the double track, with trains running every 15 minutes. About 2 million passengers have used the Transrapid since it opened, and options to extend the route are being studied.

There are some obvious differences to other rail-guided transport systems. Unlike conventional trains, maglev technology requires no wheels, axles, transmissions or pantographs. Instead, trains hover, using electromagnetic levitation, guidance and propulsion systems. One of the benefits of maglev technology is the absence of mechanical contact between track and train. Instead it uses electronics where conventional trains rely on mechanical components that wear down over longer periods of time, therefore reducing maintenance costs considerably compared with traditional rail systems. Energy consumption is also lower as a result of the lack of friction.

Safety is considered to be another strength of the system for several reasons. Due to the vehicle's construction - the cars are wrapped around the guiding track - it is almost impossible to derail. The nature of the propulsion system in the guiding track narrows the chance of any collisions with other vehicl