The pods then zoom in and out on the main line of Hyperloop, while another capsule crosses paths from an adjacent line and over to another destination. Meanwhile, ‘our’ train is broken into its separate capsules and sent separate sleeping places to let the passengers depart. It happens at such speeds that it is impossible to imagine the kind of switching technology that would be needed to make it happen. The company says that instead of a physical switch, the magnetic sledge will be able to decide which track they want to take. And this, of course, will be supported by the company’s own technology.
This is the second time the company has released an ambitious video outlining its vision of how the system will work. The first, from 2016, took place in 2020 (!) And suggested people walking to a Hyperloop station and entering a square pod. This pod rides itself into a dock where it connects to three others, and goes into a capsule that then travels through the Hyperloop tube itself. On the other hand, the pods would leave the capsule, leave the station and drive themselves to the requested destination.
By comparison, this video is almost crushingly realistic in its view of how things would work if made. The self-driving road pods have been dug, and the stations now look like train stations, albeit very fine. Passengers go through a gate line and go through a security scan, because for all the talk of a train-like experience, it’s likely that some form of safety theater will have a mandate.
The cabin of the capsule also looks much more like a train carriage with its row of seats in a 2-1 layout – and a bathroom in the capsule. The capacity in this version is 17, although the company has designed the pods to sit up to 28 at a time. It’s designed to feel like something created by Virgin’s designers, and even if it’s not look in any way like a Virgin Atlantic Upper Class cabin bird much as it does. In addition, the built-in Qi phone chargers and countdown screens on the seat are the only visual clutter in the lounge-like pod.
One of the biggest criticisms of Hyperloop is that he cannot hope to exceed or exceed passenger capacity in a regular train. The company says that the maximum capacity of each pod is 28, and by managing it in groups, it can ‘carry thousands of passengers per hour’. It’s based on the fact that the company’s software is smart enough to maintain the distances between each convoy and each pod in it. Once again, Virgin Hyperloop claims that its technology is smart enough to pack capsules and run the journey at maximum capacity.
Jay Walder, CEO of the company, said in a statement that despite the fine style: “if it is not affordable, people will not use it.” He added that “high-speed transport is currently not feasible for most people, but we want to change the idea.” The company cited a study from early 2020 that suggests that the price of a ticket will be comparable to the cost of fuel when traveling between two major metro areas.
Of course, there is a long way to go before these demands are put to the test, and the company now aims to operate its first passenger industry in 2030.