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The First Hyperloop System Will Connect Passengers From Dubai To Abu Dhabi In Twelve Minutes (techcrunch.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the don't-blink dept.

Hyperloop One has announced today that it would build the first commercial hyperloop transportation system from Dubai to Abu Dhabi -- a trip that would take only twelve minutes. TechCrunch reports: The journey is 99 miles (159.4 km) long and normally takes about two hours by car but H1 promises it would take a mere 12 minutes in the hyperloop. H1 is partnering with the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to evaluate the feasibility of building this system in greater Dubai and the UAE and the announcement follows the next stage of development for the company, which is gearing up for its "Kitty Hawk" moment early next year when H1 will test a full-scale prototype of its system in the Nevada desert. It's also part of the company's next stage of progress in Dubai. Last August H1 co-founder Shervin Pishevar hinted the first hyperloop would be built overseas and the company announced in October it received $50 million in funding from DP World Group of Dubai, the third-largest ports operator in the world, to build a hyperloop system to move cargo throughout the country and the world. You can watch H1's new video that shows their "vision for the future of mobility" here.

75 comments

  1. Finally by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Dubai doing something interesting besides building half-empty and majorly safety-violating mega hotels

    1. Re: Finally by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You expect this to be completed? wow

    2. Re: Finally by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, but maybe completed enough to learn the wrong way to build it. Then it will be done right elsewhere!

    3. Re:Finally by bluegutang · · Score: 1, Funny

      Dubai doing something interesting besides building half-empty and majorly safety-violating mega hotels

      Instead, they're building a half-empty and majorly safety-violating mega-speed train...

    4. Re: Finally by ArmoredDragon · · Score: 1

      The first thing I notice about hyperloop is that it's essentially a really big evacuated tube, which means that it's a suicide bomber dream come true, unless they want airport style security. So yeah it's probably appropriate that somebody tests it in the middle east first.

    5. Re:Finally by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 1

      The pipe needs to be more than half-empty, though.

      --
      Ezekiel 23:20
  2. 12 minutes travel, but..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...how long to wait for the train. It is all good that they are touting the decreased travel time, but if you have to wait another 2 hours for the next train to depart what is the point?

    1. Re: 12 minutes travel, but..... by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 1

      Round trip time is obviously 24 minutes, plus some time for loading. Departures on the half hour seem likely.

      --
      My God, it's Full of Source!
      OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
    2. Re: 12 minutes travel, but..... by Nutria · · Score: 1

      Departures on the half hour fulfills my fantasy.

      Much more realistic.

      --
      "I don't know, therefore Aliens" Wafflebox1
    3. Re: 12 minutes travel, but..... by demonlapin · · Score: 1

      You can't really load and unload a train in three minutes unless it's a subway-style hope-you-have-no-luggage system. 45 minute round trip times are much more feasible, but how many people want to travel between Dubai and Abu Dhabi and don't need a car at the other end?

    4. Re:12 minutes travel, but..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Its time to build an H1 scheduling App which is connected in real-time to their official network.

    5. Re: 12 minutes travel, but..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Shinkansen unloads and is cleaned up for less than 10. But then, Japan knows a thing or two about trains, and they aren't falling for the next Musk government-sponsored fantasy.

    6. Re: 12 minutes travel, but..... by stealth_finger · · Score: 1

      but how many people want to travel between Dubai and Abu Dhabi and don't need a car at the other end?

      Women? But then I guess they can't travel on their own so...

      --
      Wanna buy a shirt?
      https://www.redbubble.com/people/stealthfinger/shop?asc=u
    7. Re: 12 minutes travel, but..... by demonlapin · · Score: 1

      The UAE isn't Saudi Arabia.

  3. No, I don't think it will. by newcastlejon · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Funny how the headline gets "will connect passengers" from "evaluate the feasibility".

    Then again, those guys do have shitloads of money and very little in the way of restraint when it comes to spending it...

    --
    If God forks the Universe every time you roll a die, he'd better have a damned good memory.
    1. Re:No, I don't think it will. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They also have QTpie little girls as brides and are happy.

    2. Re:No, I don't think it will. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Sir, there's sand in the tubes! Oh, the humanity!"

    3. Re:No, I don't think it will. by The-Ixian · · Score: 1

      At least there will still be gravity in the tubes....

      --
      My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
  4. In other words by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    In other words,
    Musk is excited about the opportunities afforded by middle eastern countries that build their economies around forced unpaid labor. "it wasn't that big of a stretch compared to the capitalist system we're all used to," Musk was quoted as laughing to himself, as he swam around in his Scrooge McDuckian vault

  5. Cost effective test region. by 91degrees · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This does seem like a more sensble test track than LA to SF. At least land is cheap (mostly desert), power is cheap (mostly oil and solar) and labour is cheap (mostly slave).

    1. Re:Cost effective test region. by SumDog · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I hope it succeeded personally. There are a lot of naysayers and this would totally shut them up. It'll be a good two decades at least though before it's in production.

    2. Re:Cost effective test region. by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      This does seem like a more sensble test track than LA to SF. At least land is cheap (mostly desert), power is cheap (mostly oil and solar) and labour is cheap (mostly slave).

      I wonder if it will ever happen in the US. They tried to put in a high speed train from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, and people reacted like they were demanding to have Jerry Sandusky play Santa Claus in every school in the state. We seem to be in a wealth extraction phase now.

      One of those rare situations where the Democrats and Republicans all lined up. For different reasons, but howling was the word of the day.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    3. Re:Cost effective test region. by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 2

      This does seem like a more sensble test track than LA to SF. At least land is cheap (mostly desert), power is cheap (mostly oil and solar) and labour is cheap (mostly slave).

      And best of all, no California regulations, Green warriors, or NIMBYites.

    4. Re:Cost effective test region. by Citizen+of+Earth · · Score: 1

      Technically, you're right that a 160-km vacuum tube is *more* feasible than a 1000-km vacuum tube, but in reality, neither is feasible.

  6. 12 minutes to complete the journey by quantaman · · Score: 4, Insightful

    But only 5 minutes before passengers get impatient and complain they're not there already.

    --
    I stole this Sig
    1. Re:12 minutes to complete the journey by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In a vacuum, we can't hear them complain

    2. Re:12 minutes to complete the journey by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      After an hour of waiting in line for the security theater, I'd be cranky too.

  7. Their Sample Video seems expensive. by Marc_Hawke · · Score: 1

    He take a 'meeting' pod...privately...to the train, through the tunnel, and then it becomes his taxi to take to his mom's party.

    There's no way I'm able to afford that.

    --
    --Welcome to the Realm of the Hawke--
  8. The difference between Dubai and Abu Dhabi? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    The people from Dubai don't like the Flintstones, but the people from Abu Dhabi do.

    1. Re:The difference between Dubai and Abu Dhabi? by stealth_finger · · Score: 1

      Nice

      --
      Wanna buy a shirt?
      https://www.redbubble.com/people/stealthfinger/shop?asc=u
    2. Re:The difference between Dubai and Abu Dhabi? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sweet. And I really needed a laugh today. Thanks.

  9. I have to ask... by XSportSeeker · · Score: 2

    I wasn't on Slashdot when all the hyperloop craze started and died, so I guess I'll just post the question I posted at multiple blogs and communities back at the time:
    Why are people so hyped about this? Why? What's the point?

    The whole thing is unpractical, unproven, dependant on technology that does not exist, and it's barely bettter at some aspects to existing technology while being so incredibly worse in several other aspects that I don't even know how this whole thing even started and didn't end up as a Simpson's monorail joke to be long forgotten.

    And tech blogs and magazines keep bringing this up every now and then. It was completely ridiculous the level of hype for this on blogs like Gizmodo and several big tech publications. Tech reporters specially seem so fascinated by the whole ridiculous idea that I always feel that I must me missing something. But up to this point, no one explained it to me, so there you go.

    For the original hyperloop concept you'd need a near vacuum tube running all of it's extention as well as some braking mechanism that has not been divised just yet, closer to how pneumatic tubes for mail worked in the past.
    The project has now been adapted to use maglev technology (by some of the companies developing it), but the near vacuum tube is still in research.

    The tech can only work in an efficient way to traverse very long stretches of flat land without any interruptions. You need to reach theoretical top speeds for it to make sense over other ideas.

    In almost all proposed scenarios I've seen to date it just makes way more sense to just adopt any of the currently available maglev train technology... japanese, chinese, european, doesn't matter. The tech is ready, it works well, it's efficient and proven.
    So, why the heck are so many people putting money and attention to research into something that even at the best scenario, will have several disadvantages over Maglev, and will be far more limited than it? Wouldn't it be far better to use all this money to fund the construction of a maglev rail in the US or wherever?

    I've heard all sorts of justifications so far, but none of them made any sense to me just yet.

    Oh, for maglev you need to have uninterruptible flat land which generates lots of land disputes and whatnot. How the f* is hyperloop any better? It also needs tracks just the same, even more, it needs tracks that have to be powered in regular intervals to keep the semi-vacuum state, and the tracks have to be enclosed. It's far worse than MagLev. From the projects I've seen so far, it's a transparent vacuum tube suspended by concrete towers that generates semi-vacuum somehow... wind power with windmills, or solar power, both highly unlikely. It cannot possibly be cheaper to build a suspended transparent robust vacuum tube over concrete pilons in comparison to plain maglev tracks over land. Unless aliens do it. I guess not having to build train stations cheapens the deal, but obviously, this is a flaw, not an advantage. A maglev train that goes from point A to point B without stops would still be cheaper.

    It could get faster than MagLev. Sure, this is theoretical, but also at the huge disadvantage of not being able to have several stops, and being limited to the size of whatever diameter the tubes will have. And then there's the matter of acceleration and desceleration. If you are using maglev tracks anyways for hyperloop, it'll just be the same. If it's a vacuum tube alone, it'd depend on the braking system, but my guess would be that you'd still need a good distant to both accelerate and descelerate in a way that is comfortable for people, which kinda defeats the purpose.

    It could be great for cargo! Still doesn't make sense. MagLev would probably also be better for cargo, being able to make stops and not being limited to an enclosed space.

    I just.... I just don't know. I can imagine there is some advantage to it, but not enough to justify adopting any other readily available technology.

    1. Re:I have to ask... by twotacocombo · · Score: 3, Insightful

      The whole thing is unpractical, unproven, dependant on technology that does not exist

      Sounds an awful lot like the manned spaced flight program. Should we have just stuck to flapping our arms and staring longingly at the moon as well?

    2. Re:I have to ask... by iggymanz · · Score: 2

      no, we had a rocket program in early 1950s first that became space program in 1958 then a decade later a moon landing.

    3. Re:I have to ask... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ...and it's barely bettter at some aspects to existing technology...

      See? I can take quotes out of their context too!

      The funny thing about the manned spaceflight program (and what makes it a lazy, knee-jerk comparison) is that we didn't already have something that could get us into space at a fraction of the price.

    4. Re:I have to ask... by x0ra · · Score: 1

      How many people have been flying to space, and at which cost ?

    5. Re: I have to ask... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Suspending tracks using concrete pillars makes it cheaper since you don't have to do large amounts of landscaping. All of China's high speed rail network is built this way with the tracks supported very high on concrete pillars

    6. Re:I have to ask... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Posting AC since I modded you up. Add to these problems the fact that if a tube breaks vacuum for any reason a shockwave of air will move through the tube and collide with any trains around causing them to suddenly decelerate. The outcome might not be pretty. Add to that the cost and complexity inherent to vacuum systems. Even for vacuum chambers which don't kill people when they fail, upkeep is expensive, difficult, and they often fail anyway. I'm pretty sure nobody is saying the concept won't work. I'm not saying the concept wouldn't work. I'm just saying it's going to be expensive as hell, risky, and remind me again how much faster is it than a maglev train?

    7. Re:I have to ask... by dbIII · · Score: 1

      Why are people so hyped about this? Why? What's the point?

      It's the future! And the 19th century.
      Weird isn't it. Pneumatic tube transport is coming back after a long break since about 1864.

      MagLev would probably also be better

      I agree. A bullet train from 1968 would probably also be better, let alone a current one or something in development.

    8. Re:I have to ask... by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      The whole thing is unpractical, unproven, dependant on technology that does not exist, and it's barely bettter at some aspects to existing technology
      Hu? Making a vacuum tube is technology that dos not exist? Having a mag lev train is technology that does not exist?

      In what middle age do you live?

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    9. Re:I have to ask... by olau · · Score: 1

      It seems to me that you are not actually asking a question, but merely stating your opinion (or perhaps just venting), but anyway:

      It sounds like you didn't read the original paper. It answers some of your questions so read it instead of speculating. The tubes were not supposed to be transparent, but made of run of the mill steel. The concrete pylons are there to enable the project to be erected in connection with existing infrastructure, to save on land cost.

      As for the upsides: the hyperloop design was intended to enable much higher speeds than maglev. And this is why it got all the hype - basically the designers took an existing idea, maglev in an underground vacuum tunnel (I remember reading an article about this in a pop sci magazine from the 80'ies or early 90'ies, and modified it to (perhaps) be economically feasible (not vacuum, just low pressure and run of the mill steel tubes on over-ground pylons), but still enabling a significant speed boost and environmental improvement (powered by electricity) over other means of transportation.

      And it was presented by a person who has a history of succesfully launching ventures that people usually think have a low chance of success.

      Now, will it ever happen? Is it really feasible? Does it make sense with a high-speed line with so few stops? Can't answer that, but IMHO it was stated in an honest engineering spirit.

    10. Re:I have to ask... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I wasn't on Slashdot when all the hyperloop craze started and died, so I guess I'll just post the question I posted at multiple blogs and communities back at the time:
      Why are people so hyped about this? Why? What's the point?

      The whole thing is unpractical, unproven, dependant on technology that does not exist, and it's barely bettter at some aspects to existing technology while being so incredibly worse in several other aspects that I don't even know how this whole thing even started and didn't end up as a Simpson's monorail joke to be long forgotten.

      1. It was put forward by Elon Musk, who is, if nothing else, excellent at generating hype.
      2. Musk put released his designs and concepts for free for anyone to use; that kind of gesture from a high-profile technologist is almost guaranteed to generate hype.
      3. As I understand it, Musk's particular reason for wanting this to succeed over other rapid transit technologies is that it would be a very practical transit solution on Mars, and would thus be a boost for his ambition of a long-term sustainable colony of Mars.
      4. Musk has also publicly said that hyperloop is intended to compete with airlines, not other ground-based transit systems, with the aim of providing an airline-like speed but more environmentally friendly (ie less fuel usage)
      4. SpaceX is running a contest for groups developing hyperloop systems. Anything SpaceX does gets a lot of hype.
      5. You mention maglev as a better alternative, but maglev was also a fantasy future not that long ago. It's real now and you have no problem with it, but many of your objections to hyperloop are similar to those that were being raised against maglev twenty years ago. Until there are some actual physical test tracks up and running to prove the technology and show its strengths and weaknesses, it may be best not to get too worked up about it one way or the other.
      6. And finally, what's the point? Well, what's the point in developing anything new? Just because other similar tech already exists doesn't mean you shouldn't try out alternatives.

    11. Re:I have to ask... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The difference is that the manned space program is utterly useless and pointless, but going from Dubai to Abu Dhabi at least concerns actual people's needs.

    12. Re:I have to ask... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The whole thing is unpractical, unproven, dependant on technology that does not exist

      Sounds an awful lot like the manned spaced flight program. Should we have just stuck to flapping our arms and staring longingly at the moon as well?

      Except we have proven technology for trains that we've been using for decades; light rail, high-speed rail and even maglev.

      We don't even need Hyperloop.

    13. Re:I have to ask... by twotacocombo · · Score: 1

      It's not so much the number of people we've sent up there, but the huge number of scientific and technological advances we've made because of our efforts to get there. Human spaceflight is obviously not comparable in every day utility to hyperloop, but if we had the "It's too hard/expensive, why bother" mindset, look at all the things we'd be missing. Even if hyperloop flops spectacularly, we're bound to learn something along the way that benefits humanity somehow.

    14. Re:I have to ask... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If your going to argue against something, you should know what you are arguing against. Musk's hyperloop proposal doesn't use a full vacuum, mostly for the reasons you point out, removing most of the air significantly reduces air resistance, but their will still be some, there will also be pumps to remove excess air that comes in through the imperfect seals.

      I think the point of the hyperloop was that it wouldn't actually be all that expensive and actually be much cheaper than a maglev train. The biggest problem hyperloop has is that it is an undeveloped system, that first needs to be developed into something that works, and then be proven over time with a working system.

  10. Nice video but sometimes unrealistic.... by matthias.paschke1 · · Score: 1

    ... because of the neccessary accelleration to reach a velocity of more than 1000 km per hour or 277,7777 m per second. The accelleration must be high enough to reach the speed on the distance - and the neccessary time. I would recommend a two phase travel where both phases are timed equally. The first phase is for acceleration - the second phase to deceleration. You have to accelerate for 360 seconds. By doing so you travelled a mere 80km. That makes an acceleration of nearly an eighth g or 1,2 m per square second. By accelerating at such a rate the system reaches a top spead of nearly 1555 kilometers per hour - or better Mach 1,3. Any lower top speed needs a far higher beginning acceleration. And here is the problem: No cup of any coffee, tea or some other beverage will stand still while accelerating - like shown in the video. The travellers are more struggeling with accelerations in both directions, than be interested in drinking....

    1. Re:Nice video but sometimes unrealistic.... by HornWumpus · · Score: 3, Informative

      Dude, I'd hate to be stuck behind you in traffic.

      1/8 G? That's slower than your grandparents fucking. 0-60 in 20+ seconds. Slower than a 3 cylinder Geo Metro with 4 fat people crammed in it, going up a steep hill, against the wind, with a slipping transmission.

      Stomp that throttle, your drink won't spill, use a lid.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
  11. Someone get this man some Ritalin by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I'm going to retire on Mars - Hyperloop - Wait do you want to launch on SpaceX? - I'm going to colonize Mars - Hey check out my electric car! - I'm going to build a Hyperloop! - I'm looking for people to go to Mars - Hey check out my rockets! - It's an autopilot but it's not really auto - SpaceX! - I'm going to build a Hyperloop - check out my latest CGI - I'm going to retire on Mars - Hyperloop - Wait do you want to launch on SpaceX? - I'm going to colonize Mars - Hey check out my electric car! - I'm going to build a Hyperloop! - I'm looking for people to go to Mars - Hey check out my rockets! - It's an autopilot but it's not really auto - SpaceX! - I'm going to build a Hyperloop - check out my latest CGI -I'm going to retire on Mars - Hyperloop - Wait do you want to launch on SpaceX? - I'm going to colonize Mars - Hey check out my electric car! - I'm going to build a Hyperloop! - I'm looking for people to go to Mars - Hey check out my rockets! - It's an autopilot but it's not really auto - SpaceX! - I'm going to build a Hyperloop - check out my latest CGI I'm going to retire on Mars - Hyperloop - Wait do you want to launch on SpaceX? - I'm going to colonize Mars - Hey check out my electric car! - I'm going to build a Hyperloop! - I'm looking for people to go to Mars - Hey check out my rockets! - It's an autopilot but it's not really auto - SpaceX! - I'm going to build a Hyperloop - check out my latest CGI I'm going to retire on Mars - Hyperloop - Wait do you want to launch on SpaceX? - I'm going to colonize Mars - Hey check out my electric car! - I'm going to build a Hyperloop! - I'm looking for people to go to Mars - Hey check out my rockets! - It's an autopilot but it's not really auto - SpaceX! - I'm going to build a Hyperloop - check out my latest CGI I'm going to retire on Mars - Hyperloop - Wait do you want to launch on SpaceX? - I'm going to colonize Mars - Hey check out my electric car! - I'm going to build a Hyperloop! - I'm looking for people to go to Mars - Hey check out my rockets! - It's an autopilot but it's not really auto - SpaceX! - I'm going to build a Hyperloop - check out my latest CGI I'm going to retire on Mars - Hyperloop - Wait do you want to launch on SpaceX? - I'm going to colonize Mars - Hey check out my electric car! - I'm going to build a Hyperloop! - I'm looking for people to go to Mars - Hey check out my rockets! - It's an autopilot but it's not really auto - SpaceX! - I'm going to build a Hyperloop - check out my latest CGI

  12. These places are already dead by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    There's no hope for them. Unsustainable shitholes. No hope for them.

  13. This is great news by rsilvergun · · Score: 1

    for anyone looking to off load an adorable kitten in 12 minutes. Used to be you had to send them by mail. (mad props to anyone who gets the joke).

    --
    Hi! I make Firefox Plug-ins. Check 'em out @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/
    1. Re:This is great news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We've all heard Sheldon explain it many times...

    2. Re:This is great news by The-Ixian · · Score: 1

      Boy, I hate Monday's.... oh wait... it's Wednesday... nm

      --
      My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
  14. Will they allow bicycles on the darn thing???? by mallyn · · Score: 1
    Okay folks; this seems to be interesting, overpriced, impractical, unproven, consumptive of slave labour, questionable profit/loss, etc.

    But they missed the important question. Will the darn thing have bicycle racks so you can bring you bikes on board?????

    The MAX in Portland and WTA here in Bellingham have racks/hooks for bicycles.

    Perhaps if this is successful, the next one could be from Seattle to Vancouver with stops in Everett, and Bellingham, also with bicycle access? I ride my bicycle from home here in Bellingham to Hyperloop (most likely sited at the Amtrak station in Fairhaven) than take the 8 minute ride to Seattle (most likely King Street Station) then ride the bicycle to the Opera, then be back home here in Bellingham in time for my 11 PM bedtime????????

    --
    Most Respectfully Yours Mark Allyn Bellingham, Washington
  15. Can it scale up? by k6mfw · · Score: 2

    Sounds feasible in a place where extreme wealthy people can build winter village on top of a skyscraper in the desert and have lots of snazzy business jets. However, can hyperloop scale up to move lots of people like high speed rail in Europe and Japan? Decades ago SST was going to be the primary transport but it never could scale up like subsonic transport. Latest Boeing and Airbus transports don't go any higher or faster than the 707 and DC-8 though much better and safer airplanes.

    --
    mfwright@batnet.com
  16. No, it won't by mattwarden · · Score: 1

    Hasn't this garbage been debunked?

    1. Re:No, it won't by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hasn't this garbage been debunked?

      No. Firefox has yet to build-in a fact-checker engine.

    2. Re: No, it won't by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      plenty of stuff they believe in middle east has been debubked.

  17. vision for the future of N-obility by xxxJonBoyxxx · · Score: 1

    >> vision for the future of mobility

    Vision for the future of nobility - FTFY. You heard it here first: there will be a special "Presidential" car and a second car for the rest of the royal families.

  18. Expensive part is building the track, 2 lane free by raymorris · · Score: 1

    I don't know that this is at all feasible, but mostly because building the track is so expensive. Once you have the tube in place, early estimates say each tube should have about the same carrying capacity per hour as two freeway lanes. Because each pod makes the trip so quickly, each pod would make many more trips per hour than one automobile would.

    Two freeway lanes is roughly what you'd want for capacity- you're replacing the long-haul express lane, not carrying the people who only want to travel 5 or 10 miles.

  19. One small problem by EEPROMS · · Score: 1

    The numbers regarding the physics have already been done and they show the whole hyperloop concept is pure fantasy.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

    1. Re:One small problem by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thunderf00t isn't an authoritative source, especially since he has some sort of vendetta against Elon Musk, dunno why he hates the guy but he's pretty biased for some reason.. He's been getting increasingly critical of things such as this which are just in the research level with no expectations of real life applications. All the videos about the hyperloop are marketed towards R&D investment. Of course it's not ready yet, that's why they're making videos to get research funding, duh...

  20. Naïve question... by jcr · · Score: 2

    Can a hyperloop track be as simple as lengths of standard concrete pipe? Obviously alignment would be critical, but I'm wondering if the track could be relatively cheap.

    -jcr

    --
    The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
    1. Re:Naïve question... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The pylons are the easy and cheap part of construction. The problem remains with the "tubes" which have to be a very good vacuum over a long distance. Today scientists do use vacuums, but they are barely a room or two in size, which is quite different from a tube that runs for many kilometers.

    2. Re:Naïve question... by drgould · · Score: 1

      > The problem remains with the "tubes" which have to be a very good vacuum over a long distance.

      That and the thermal expansion and contraction of the metal tubes extending over kilometers which must remain vacuum tight and well aligned.

      Good luck with that.

    3. Re:Naïve question... by Citizen+of+Earth · · Score: 1

      The biggest problem is the requirement to maintain a 1/1000th-atmosphere near-vacuum for a tube length of hundreds or thousands of kilometers, where any failure of the vacuum will kill everyone in the tube at the time. Any terrorist can kill hundreds of people and shut down expensive infrastructure just by shooting a hole in the tube.

  21. While you wait by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And while you wait, you can get a health check at a Theranos machine powered by cold fusion.

  22. Bad news for Nermal. by sabbede · · Score: 1

    But good news for Garfield!

  23. curso NR 10 by Instituto+Santa+Cata · · Score: 1

    Curso NR 10 online curso NR 10 curso NR 10 online

  24. Splish, splash, I was takin' a bath... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I believe the correct term is: "non-cohesive buckets of body parts," rather than passengers. You could sump it up by using "victims," as it's shorter.

  25. 800 km/h by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That's more than Mach 3.5 average! Peak speed must be ridiculous.

    1. Re:800 km/h by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      2.35*
      Lost a digit there somehow.