The first line of the Hyperloop, a high-speed train that costs less than a subway, is expected to debut within two years. The statement comes from Andres De León, head of operations at Hyperloop Technologies, a company negotiating with governments from various countries to implement this innovative mode of transportation.
Currently, León cannot specify which country will be the first to have the Hyperloop. “We are working with different governments. Everyone wants to be first, but it will depend on who is faster. The regulations are taking longer than we expected at the beginning. It’s not something that will take ten years, but it’s also not overnight. It should take one to two years to debut,” said the executive during a press conference at the 10th edition of Campus Party Brazil, held in São Paulo. “Innovation comes first, and regulation comes later.”
The current negotiation is focused on Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, but Hyperloop Technologies has already signed agreements with the governments of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. California is also on the company’s agenda, which is working in partnership with over 40 companies from different parts of the globe and has about 600 employees. “We do not believe we are a company that will create the Hyperloop. We believe in a movement,” León said.
One of the first planned routes will connect the cities of Brno, Prague, and Bratislava. The journey, which currently takes an hour and a half, could be completed in 10 minutes. The average speed of the train is 1,200 km/h. It uses a combination of magnetic levitation with fans to reduce air resistance, among other factors.
The Hyperloop was envisioned by billionaire Elon Musk, who shared the project without patenting it. In fact, he is so stressed about traffic that he started digging a huge hole in the United States without really knowing what he is doing.
By Lucas Agrela; Source: Exame.com