A 0.4-kilometer-long tunnel was constructed in the Netherlands. This tunnel marks Europe’s longest infrastructure dedicated to testing Hyperloop technology, with the potential for speeds of up to 1000 km/h. In the foreseeable future, passengers traveling from Amsterdam to Barcelona could utilize this mode of transportation.
The distance between these cities spans 1500 km, and Hyperloop promises to reduce travel time to less than a couple of hours. The project entails a tunnel comprising 34 interconnected pipes, each 2.5 meters wide. To minimize resistance, the tunnel is evacuated of air, and propulsion is achieved through the use of magnets.
The Hyperloop concept, initially proposed by Elon Musk, employs pods that travel within a magnetically levitated vacuum tube. By eliminating air from the equation, air resistance and friction are significantly reduced. Project developers anticipate that by 2050, an extensive network of such tunnels will be operational across Europe.
The inaugural trials for the European Hyperloop are scheduled for the end of March or the beginning of April this year. However, securing funding to establish such a test track remains a major challenge for nonprofit organizations involved in the initiative.