The pods then zoom out and zoom out on the main Hyperloop line, while another capsule from an adjacent line crosses paths to another destination. “Our” train, however, is divided into its individual capsules and sent to individual bunks ready to allow passengers to leave. This happens at such speeds that it is impossible to imagine the type of switching technology needed to make this happen. The company says that, instead of a physical key, the magnetically levitated sledges will be able to decide which trail to take. And that will of course be supported by the company’s proprietary technology.
This is the second time that the company has released an ambitious video outlining its vision of how the system would work. The first, from 2016, was set in 2020 (!) And I imagined people walking to a Hyperloop station and entering a square pod. This pod would head to a dock where it would join three others, entering a capsule that would then navigate through the Hyperloop tube itself. At the other end, the pods would leave the pod, leave the station and go to the requested destination.
In comparison, this video is almost overwhelmingly realistic in its appearance as to how things would work if done. Autonomous vehicles on the road have been abandoned and the stations now look like train stations, although they are very sophisticated. Passengers enter through a gate line and undergo a security scan, because despite all the talk about a train-like experience, some form of security theater is likely to be mandatory.
The capsule cabin also looks much more like a train car with its row of seats in a 2-1 layout – and a toilet inside the capsule. The capacity in this render is 17, although the company has designed the pods to accommodate up to 28 at a time. It has the style of being something created by Virgin designers, and even if it doesn’t Look either way, like an upscale Virgin Atlantic cabin, feel much like that. In addition, integrated Qi phone charging plates and seat-mounted countdown screens are the only visual clutter in the lounge-like compartment.
One of the biggest criticisms of Hyperloop is that it cannot expect to match or exceed the capacity of passengers on a regular train. The company says that the maximum capacity of each pod is 28 and, operating them in groups, will be able to “transport thousands of passengers per hour”. This is based on the company’s software being smart enough to maintain the distances between each train and each pod on it. Once again, Virgin Hyperloop claims that its technology is smart enough to package capsules and keep the trip running at full capacity.
In a statement, company CEO Jay Walder said that despite the sophisticated style, “if it is not accessible, people will not use it”. He added that “high-speed transport is currently not feasible for most people, but we want to change that notion.” The company cited an early 2020 study suggesting that the price of a ticket would be comparable to the cost of gas when driving between two major metropolitan areas.
Of course, there is still a long way to go before these claims are put to the test, and the company now plans to operate its first passenger operation in 2030.