Delhi to Jaipur In 30 Minutes: First Hyperloop Test Paves the Way for Ultra-Fast Travel

Chennai: Travel time between Mumbai-Ahmedabad, Delhi-Jaipur and other major cities may be reduced drastically in the near future, if Hyperloop projects, currently in pre-testing stages, become reality. In a step forward towards this direction, the government has announced another instalment of $1 Million to IIT -Madras, which has developed India’s first Hyperloop test track that will allow train travel in a near-vacuum tube condition.

IIT-Madras has developed half a kilometre — 422-meter-long — hyperloop test track to enable train travel in near-vacuum conditions. The track will support upto a speed of 1,000 km per hour.

Mumbai to Ahmedabad in 1 hour, Delhi to Jaipur in 30 mins?

The test track developed by IIT-Madras, will allow testing vehicles to travel at a speed of 1,000 km per hour. Travelling at such a high speed be a boon for thousands and lakhs of people who commute longer distance to work almost everyday.

Therefore, Hyperloop, if becomes reality, will provide a more safe and fast transportation medium. The new travel medium will reduce travel time between major cities drastically. For example, the distance between Mumbai-Ahmedabad is 523 kms and Delhi to Jaipur is 296 kms. So if Hyperloop projects are developed between these cities, it will reduce travel time to roughly around 1 hour and 30 minutes respectively.

What is a Hyperloop?

Hyperloop is yet another medium of transportation which is more efficient, safe and fast than the exiting ones including aeroplanes.

Hyperloop concept, which allows trains or advanced-generation travelling pods, at very high speed inside low pressure tubes, was first proposed by Elon Musk in 2013.

The technology also uses magnetic levitation which allows the travel unit to hover above the track, and facing minimal air friction. This gap between the track and pod or train using magnetic levitation is what helps them attain such turbulent speed.

Railways Minister on Hyperloop projects in India?

The Hyperloop project at IIT Madras — Government-academia collaboration — is driving innovation in futuristic transportation, said Railways Minster Ashwini Vaishnaw as he addressed Asia's first Global Hyperloop Competition in Chennai.

“Bharat’s first hyperloop test track, the first pod of 422 meters will really go a long way in developing the technologies. I think the time has come when after the first two grants of $1 million each, there third grant of $1 million is given to IIT Madras to further develop the hyperloop project,” Vaishnaw said.

The Union Minister further added that they will set up the first commercial project within the Railways setup after reviewing the first pre-commercial product, when it becomes ready. “We will decide on a site which can be used for good commercial transportation of let’s say 40-50 kms,” he informed.

Vaishnaw also shared a short clip of 422-metre-long Hyperloop test track, India's first, located at IIT-Madras.

Are there any operational Hyperloop projects?

As of now, there are no commercial Hyperloop projects that are currently operational for passenger travel. One of major companies, Hyperloop One, ceased its operations to develop a project due to lack of funding. Though research and analysis are being invested in this technology, a fully operational Hyperloop system does exist anywhere in the world.