HyperLoop

[Onkel Neal]

The Hyperloop is one step closer to becoming a reality. If it works, the new form of transportation could mean a journey from LA to San Francisco city would take just 50 minutes.

So, looks cool, but it depends on a miles long vacuum tunnel? What happens if some bored idiot shoots the tunnel in some remote area with a .22 ?
https://www.wired.com/video/watch-th...sful-test-ride

[vienna]

Originally Posted by Onkel Neal

So, looks cool, but it depends on a miles long vacuum tunnel? What happens if some bored idiot shoots the tunnel in some remote area with a .22 ?
https://www.wired.com/video/watch-th...sful-test-ride

It is impressive as a theoretical experiment, but, as you point out, the reality is problematic. The sheer cost is a massive cost benefit nightmare and the technical, logistical, security and maintenance questions will be hard to deal with; even now, conventional rail travel has had restrictions and requirements somewhat akin to air travel; with what could only be presumed to be a very high value target for possible terror attacks, what is really the upside to the hyper loop, other than for cargo? Take the Los Angeles to San Francisco run: 50 minutes may seem rather rapid, but the reality is the actual air distance is only about 400 miles (a bit over 640 km); a normal flight time for commercial passenger airlines from the gate at LAX to the gate at SFO is about 50-55 min, literally no real gain. Of course the actual trip time doesn't take into account the early arrival at the airport to check-in, check luggage, and go through the whole TSA rigmarole and then having to reverse the process at the destination, adding at least a couple of hours to the whole trip. I really doubt the prep and inspect will be any less with the hyperloop, so, meh..




<O>

[kraznyi_oktjabr]

Looks cool on paper but when you start looking for practical applications there are not too many. As you have pointed out hyperloop introduces new set of infrastructure costs with (in most cases) negligible time savings. Also this is passenger only project as for most types of cargo speed is not that relevant: timely delivery and cost effectiviness are.

[Gargamel]

The video I watched today stated it's initial use in Dubai, where the first operational HL will be built, will be mainly cargo to start, and passenger use will increase as the tech for comfort and logistics increases.

Cargo is easy, as they will use modular containers that drop onto the cars and off they go. If they have to sit aside for a bit, there isn't any care and feeding required as you would with passengers.

[mapuc]

This thread made me remember some kind of engineering program. In this episode, they were talking about what it would take to build a tunnel under the Atlantic and they even talked about the train that could travel at extreme high speed, can't remember the speed, only it had to travel in vacuum, and it should transport people from Europe to USA and the other way.


Markus

[propbeanie]

What happens to a passenger's ears in something like that? Not only that, but I can hear about a billion and a half "That sux" jokes that would be forthcoming...

[kraznyi_oktjabr]

Originally Posted by Gargamel

The video I watched today stated it's initial use in Dubai, where the first operational HL will be built, will be mainly cargo to start, and passenger use will increase as the tech for comfort and logistics increases.

Surprise, surprise... you gotta pour that money somewhere ya know!

Originally Posted by Gargamel

Cargo is easy, as they will use modular containers that drop onto the cars and off they go. If they have to sit aside for a bit, there isn't any care and feeding required as you would with passengers.

It is also very easy to drop those containers to railway cars or truck trailers without need to pay for new infrastructure. I still fail to see a viable business case for hyperloop. Looks cool but is it worth the cost?