Aiming to make the innovative and extremely fast transportation system a reality, Virgin Hyperloop announced that it has canceled its passenger transportation project.
Virgin's hyperloop train project, owned by billionaire businessman Richard Branson, has made quite a splash in recent years.
The tests of the project, which aims to transport passengers with super-fast trains that will reach 1000 kilometers per hour when implemented, were carried out in 2020.
The Hyperloop system consists of electric and pressurized vehicles that can move at very high speeds in closed tubes with low friction, connecting large metropolitan areas.
PROJECT CANCELED
Aiming to make the innovative and ultra-fast transportation system a reality, Virgin Hyperloop laid off about half of its workers.
The US-based firm announced that it has given up on passenger transportation projects and will focus on cargo transportation from now on. As a result, 111 people were laid off.
Virgin Hyperloop was the only company to test this high-speed train technology in the real world so far.
The company states that it will deliver the cargo at a speed of one thousand kilometers per hour when it begins to serve. Investors believe that cargo transportation makes more sense, at least in the short term.
IT WILL WORK LIKE MAGLEV TRAINS
Unlike normal trains, maglev trains do not have wheels. These trains are placed on rails and propelled forward with the help of electromagnets. This reduces the friction caused by the wheels and allows trains to reach incredible speeds:
A similar system will be used in the Hyperloop project, and speeds of 1000 kilometers per hour will be reached.
Shanghai Maglev, currently the fastest commercial train in the world, can speed up to 482 kilometers per hour.
Hi, Greetings from Denver Colorado.
Your “Canceled” headline is misleading. It should read, “Virgin Hyperloop focuses on cargo rather than passenger transport for now”.
Also note there are multiple hyperloop companies studying this technology such as Transpod, Zerolos, SwissPod, Hardt, HTT, and ET3. The technology requires much more testing and funding before it's either proven or abandoned.