India’s first Hyperloop test track, covering 410 meters, has been successfully completed by IIT Madras. Using the social media site X, which was formerly known as Twitter, railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw posted a video, saying, “Bharat’s first Hyperloop test track (410 meters) completed.
Team Railways, IIT-Madras’Avishkar Hyperloop team and TuTr (incubated startup). At IIT-M discovery campus, Thaiyur.”
— AshwiniVaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw)
What is Hyperloop?
A Hyperloop is a high-speed transportation system where pods, functioning as pressurized vehicles, move at extraordinary speeds through low-pressure tubes. Each pod can carry 24-28 passengers directly between destinations without intermediate stops, making it a promising solution for efficient, point-to-point travel.
India’s hyperloop project
The first full-scale Hyperloop project in India is expected to be the Mumbai-Pune route. The aim of the train system is to cut the time it takes to get from one city to the other to just twenty-five minutes. Even with the advancements, the project is still in its early phases of development.
Speed and Cost
Hyperloop trains are designed to reach speeds of up to 1,100 kmph, with an operational cruising speed of around 360 kmph.The cost per kilometer of a hyperloop in India is estimated to be around Rs 150 crore.
Features of hyperloop
High speeds: Hyperloop pods can travel at ultra-high speeds due to a combination of contactless levitation and propulsion systems, and a lowpressure environment.
Energy efficiency: Hyperloop is fully-electric and energy-efficient, and can transport passengers and goods at a fraction of the energy consumption of traditional transportation systems.
Vacuum tubes: Hyperloop uses low-pressure tubes with built-in vacuums to reduce air resistance and friction.
Reduced congestion: Hyperloop could cut roadway congestion.
Reduced noise pollution: Hyperloop could reduce air and noise pollution.