Two potential UK Hyperloop routes race ahead in global competition

Hyperloop systems reaching 1,200km/h could potentially run on two UK routes after proposals succeeded in a global challenge.

Possible routes between Edinburgh-London and Glasgow-Liverpool were selected for further development by Hyperloop One, the only company that has built a full-scale Hyperloop system. Teams from the University of Edinburgh and firms Arup and Ryder were among others from the US, India, Mexico and Canada that competed in the challenge run by Hyperloop One, submitting designs and possible routes.

“We are hugely excited to be selected to collaborate with Hyperloop One,” said Ryder partner Paul Bell. “The north gave the world railway technology and we are passionate about making sure the north is at the forefront of the next generation of transport innovation, developing skills, expertise and system components that will be exported around the world.”

The levitating, pod-based form of transport was suggested by Elon Musk in 2013. Passengers could potentially travel between London and Edinburgh in just 35 minutes through tunnels with very low air pressure.

However, existing transport corridors in the UK would be unsuitable for Hyperloop, said the IMechE’s head of transport and manufacturing Philippa Oldham previously. “In addition, travelling at those speeds means that any fault in the system would mean everyone on board would die – just as you would at 60,000m if you were rapidly decompressed,” she added. “The safety systems will be critical to this technology ever being viable.”