Hyperloop could be heading to the Middle East, thanks to a new deal signed on Monday between Hyperloop One and port operator DP World. The partnership calls for a feasibility study of how the nascent, ultra-fast transport technology could improve Dubai's Jebel Ali Port, but both parties hope that's just the beginning.
The study will look at the possibility of building a Hyperloop to take freight off container ships arriving at Jebel Ali and transport it via the technology's system of pods moving through pressurized tubes to an inland depot that DP World plans to build further inland.
"By having a system where a box can be taken off a ship and dropped into the tube or pod, we are moving activity that would otherwise be on the island terminal as well as reducing the size of the terminal you need to build," said Hyperloop One founding board member Peter Diamandis.
The Los Angeles-based startup says a Hyperloop can fit within Dubai's existing transportation corridors and could reduce freeway traffic by taking cargo transport trucks off roads. DP World says it can even foresee using a "submerged floating Hyperloop" located next to its huge new terminal built on a man-made island.
Hyperloop One isn't the only startup looking to commercialize a version of the technology originally open sourced by Elon Musk three years ago. Hyperloop Transportation Technologies has its own plans for a pilot passenger track in California. But Hyperloop One has been stealing all the headlines lately, with public tests at the site of its new Nevada construction facility and other initiatives in Russia and Finland.
Even with the latest in a string of globe-trotting agreements, we've still yet to see a complete Hyperloop proof of concept. Regardless, it seems the worldwide Hyperloop race is on and Dubai is now in the mix.
"We firmly believe that this study is the first step towards the construction of the Hyperloop in Dubai," said Shervin Pishevar, cofounder and Executive Chairman of Hyperloop One.
Source: Hyperloop One
The Hyperloop won't be reality (it most likely will eventually) for at least another 25 years. Look at where we are with space tourism. The X prize for that was won over a decade ago. Same with the genome, coded in 2001 or 2003 depending on who you believe. It still has not benefited the average human being. Who do you know that receives drugs or therapy or treatment based on their genome being sequenced to develop treatment? It will be another decade or two before it goes mainstream.
Perhaps because rail would cost as much if not more per mile than a hyperloop system?
We find space in crowded cities for more parking structures and tall buildings and roads and such and even figure out where to put new airports. We can find a place to locate hyperloop hubs. I don't envision there being a single loop, but more that there is a packet/capsule switched network and lots of local loops that would connect into the mainline and allow capsules to merge into the stream heading in or out of the city as needed.
I live near San Antonio, TX and can envision a hyperloop paralleling I35 from San Antonio to DFW and down I45 from DFW to Houston and back on I10 to San Antonio. Parallel loops would run each direction.
Local loops would be coming off in several cities along the way such as Austin, Temple, Waco, College Station etc. Maybe additional local "station" loops would exist as well depending on the cost of creating a local loop.
As it would be built in two loops, one heading each direction you'd be able to have your packet/capsule targeted for any where on the loop and it would accelerate up to speed and insert itself into the flow in whichever direction was the shortest. At 600mph even diverting to Houston to get to College Station would be faster than a direct drive from San Antonio.