The Maglev concept is quite simple. Have you ever put two magnets together and found that they repel each other? That is exactly how Maglev works. Maglev works by sending charges through magnets. One set of magnets is pushing to the left in the diagram below (in this case the magnets marked with S). The others (the ones marked with N) are pulling towards the left. This is creating a force that is making the Maglev car be pushed to the left.
Not only does the track and car have vertically-facing magnets but they has horizontally-facing magnets. These keep the Maglev car's overhang from hitting the tracks. If this happened at high speeds it may cause derailment. This would decrease the amount of safety that a regular Maglev system has to offer.
By Max Kelley