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Gallery: Upcoming human rides on Hyperloop
Virgin Hyperloop One CEO Jay Walder says the price of a ticket will be comparable to urban rail systems
Hyperloop in India: The government of the Indian state of Maharashtra officially deemed hyperloop a public infrastructure project. Maharashtra also approved a DP World-Virgin Hyperloop One consortium as the original project proponent for the plan that will cut down the travel time between Mumbai and Pune to less than 35 minutes.
Stepping up: Walder said that the state’s recognition of hyperloop, alongside conventional modes of transport, is an important step that shows that the technology is rapidly becoming a viable reality. “[This puts it] on par and equivalent to ‘traditional’ infrastructure, like air, rail, cars and boats. All the things we’ve had for 100 years.”
The experience: Walder said that from a passenger’s perspective, riding in a hyperloop pod will be roughly comparable to riding on a smooth passenger flight, although much more convenient. “It’s effectively [going to be moving] at the speed of an airplane, completely smooth, with no turbulence taking place.”
Affordable tickets: Additionally, Walder said that the ticket prices are likely to be similar to rail tickets in major urban areas around the world. “We look at it as being comparable to a train ticket, rather than comparable to the cost of a plane ticket,” he said. “Our goal is to be used by millions and millions of people.”
