Italy's ‘Ultra Fast' Hyperloop Train Reaches Major Milestone
One of Italy's most ambitious transportation projects is set to begin testing after passing its feasibility study.
The Hyper Transfer hyperloop project, on which research first began in 2013, will commence construction work on a test track in Veneto, spanning 10 kilometers (about six miles) between Padua and Venice.
The hyperloop project is designed to transport passengers and cargo at record speeds of up to 1,200 kilometers per hour, thanks to the use of magnetic levitation through vacuums.
The vacuum means there is no air resistance on the front of the vehicle, allowing transport tubes to move at very high speeds. The technology has been tested in various parts of the world, including India, but the construction of a test site in Italy would be a major breakthrough for the concept in Europe.
The hyperloop project has completed its feasibility study phase, with Luca Zaia, the president of the Veneto region, announcing that the test track would be built in his area.
Zaia told the Transportation Logistics Fair in Munich this week: "It is not a futuristic vision but a concrete project born in Veneto...A revolutionary technology, strongly desired by the Veneto Region, which is now entering its operational phase."
A consortium of four companies is managing the project: HyperloopTT, a Los Angeles-based technology provider and designer; Webuild, Italy's largest engineering contractor; Leonardo, a multinational aerospace and defense monitor; and Hyperloop Italia, the body that licenses the infrastructure.
The test track will occupy a 10-kilometer stretch of land. It will be designed to carry both passengers and cargo, allowing the loop's safety systems and energy management technology to be properly tested.
HyperloopTT CEO Andrés de Leónsaid in a statement to Newsweek: "This is the moment HyperloopTT has been working towards since 2013. We thank the Italian government, the Veneto region, and CAV for their vision and commitment to sustainable innovation.
"We've partnered with some of the best engineering and transportation companies in the world, all with deep roots in the region. We look forward to bringing this first of many hyperloop systems to the world."
HyperloopTT COO Andrea La Mendola said: "Italy has always been a cradle of creativity, innovation, and progress, from the artistic brilliance of the Renaissance to the engineering prowess behind their high-speed trains. Today, we stand at the dawn of a new era, poised to redefine mobility once again with the 'Hyper Transfer' project.
"This hyperloop system is not just about connecting Venice and Padua in record time; it is a testament to Italy's unwavering spirit of innovation and their commitment to sustainable and efficient transport."
The testing process is expected to take several years, although engineers hope that parts of the infrastructure will be operational by 2030.
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