Could Hyperloop One be coming to Europe?
by Kim Megson | 08 Jun 2017
Europe embraces new ideas in transportation like no other region in the world and is uniquely positioned to take the next great leap in transportation with Hyperloop One
– Shervin Pishevar, co-founder and executive chair of Hyperloop One
– Shervin Pishevar, co-founder and executive chair of Hyperloop One
Over 75 million people in 44 cities across Europe could one day be connected by a high-speed Hyperloop network spanning 5,000 kilometres – with nine prospective routes being considered by for the continent.
Executives from Hyperloop One – one of the companies attempting to make Canadian-American entrepreneur Elon Musk’s ambition for superfast travel a reality – have met dignitaries and policymakers at its Vision for Europe summit in Amsterdam to discuss how Hyperloop could develop green and efficient city-to-city connections to create “thriving mega-regions.”
The Hyperloop would cross both cities and countries. A journey from London to Edinburgh, which currently takes at least five hours by train, could be made in just 50 minutes.
The full list of prospective routes is as follows:
These suggestions were unveiled at the event for the Hyperloop One Global Challenge – an open call to individuals, universities, companies and governments to develop comprehensive proposals for deploying Hyperloop One’s transport technology in their region. The European proposals have advanced to the semi-final round.
“Europe embraces new ideas in transportation like no other region in the world and is uniquely positioned to take the next great leap in transportation with Hyperloop One,” said Shervin Pishevar, co-founder and executive chair of Hyperloop One. “Our vision is to, one day, connect all of Europe with our Hyperloop One system, networking the entire continent.”
With Hyperloop One, passengers and cargo are loaded into a pod and accelerated gradually via electric propulsion through a low-pressure tube. The pod quickly lifts above the track using magnetic levitation and glides at airline speeds for long distances due to ultra-low aerodynamic drag.
A design and engineering team including Bjarke Ingels Group and AECOM have been working on the design of the Hyperloop One system. Their concept involves fleets of autonomous cubic pods that can travel along regular roads, picking up passengers, before entering the pods at Hyperloop stations – a system which would have major implications for the leisure industry.
The Hyperloop concept was first proposed by Musk in 2013, firing the starting gun on a technological race to realise the concept.
By the end of 2017, Hyperloop One will have a team of 500 employees dedicated to bringing the technology to life. The company is considering potential routes all around the world, including in the United Arab Emirates and India.
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Over 75 million people in 44 cities across Europe could one day be connected by a high-speed Hyperloop network spanning 5,000 kilometres – with nine prospective routes being considered by for the continent. Executives from Hyperloop One – one of the companies attempting to make Canadian-American entrepreneur Elon Musk’s ambition for superfast travel a reality – have met dignitaries and policymakers at its Vision for Europe summit in Amsterdam to
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