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Industry stakeholders sign agreement to support the development of hyperloop in Europe

Posted: 8 October 2021 | | No comments yet

As a result of the agreement, hyperloop companies and the European Rail Infrastructure Managers will be able to learn from each other and identify potential innovation drivers.

Agreement signed to support the development of hyperloop in Europe

The seven largest players in the hyperloop industry and the European Rail Infrastructure Managers (EIM) have signed an agreement with the objective to support the integration of hyperloop and rail systems across Europe, and to exchange information and best practices in order to facilitate cooperation and efficiency for mobility systems of the future.

Thanks to this cooperation, rail infrastructure manager members of EIM and hyperloop companies will be able to learn from each other and identify potential innovation drivers. The hyperloop companies include Hardt, HyperloopTT, Nevomo, Swisspod Technologies, TransPod, Virgin Hyperloop and Zeleros.

Gorm Frimannslund, EIM‘s President, declared: “Hyperloop can play a key role in the transition towards sustainable, safe, intermodal transportation in Europe, in line with the principles of the Green Deal and EU Recovery Fund. Rail infrastructure managers can bring their experience and know-how to facilitate hyperloop system integration into existing rail systems throughout Europe. Thanks to this agreement, we pave the way to explore promising multimodal, efficient infrastructure transport solutions for the benefit of European citizens and the greater economy.”

The hyperloop company signatories of this agreement consider that “this new cooperation with EIM paves the way to better connect both modes. It will also support hyperloop to become a complimentary transport eco-system in the interest of freight customers and passengers.”

The agreement is the latest in a line of recent developments which have brought the fantasy of hyperloop ever closer to becoming reality. As Virgin Hyperloop CEO Josh Giegel revealed in an earlier interview for Intelligent Transport, the technology could be become useable for passengers as soon as this decade. 

There is little doubt that hyperloop will change the game as far as public transit is concerned, but getting this futuristic technology approved by regulatory authorities and safe for passengers will no doubt be a challenge. Yet agreements such as this one demonstrate that zipping between Paris and Berlin in a matter of hours could be closer than you think.