A maglev is unrestricted by the friction limitations of the steel wheel-to-steel rail interface. In theory, they can climb far higher grades than traditional wheeled trains can.
In fact, the ICTS proposed for Hamilton after the GO Urban plan fell apart called for sustained 8% grades up the mountain. And this was possible because of the contactless LIM that it used for propulsion.
I do always feel like that alignment was somewhat contrived to create the grades for demonstration purposes…. coming down the escarpment at an angle could have reduced the grade and actually served Mohawk College.
