Skip to main content

First 10km of UAE hyperloop ‘ready in 2020’

The project billed as the world’s first commercial hyperloop system is on course to open its first 10km section next year in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). In an interview Bibop Gresta, chairman of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, told Emirates News Agency that the average cost would be $20-40m per km. Despite the cost, he is confident that the scheme – which will eventually run for 150km between Abu Dhabi and Dubai – will pay for itself in “eight to 15 years”. “It will be paying for itself
January 29, 2019 Read time: 2 mins

The project billed as the world’s first commercial hyperloop system is on course to open its first 10km section next year in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

In an %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external interview false http://wam.ae/en/details/1395302733154 false false%> Bibop Gresta, chairman of 8535 Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, told Emirates News Agency that the average cost would be $20-40m per km.

Despite the cost, he is confident that the scheme – which will eventually run for 150km between Abu Dhabi and Dubai – will pay for itself in “eight to 15 years”.

“It will be paying for itself and then it will be generating profits for the country,” he said. “So it is not only fast but also very efficient."

The system uses electro-magnetic levitation engineering to carry pods at high speeds, thus reducing journey times considerably.

Gresta said that a capsule which will be deployed on the project is being tested in Toulouse, France, on a prototype track before being used in the UAE.

"Hyperloop can quickly become profitable. It presents the ability to build a mass transit system that would not require government subsidies," he added.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • C-roads will soon be ‘a reality’
    March 9, 2018
    Cross-border C-ITS-enabled roads (C-roads) will start becoming a reality in 2019, with safety as the driver, according to AustriaTech/ITS Austria's Martin Bohm. He made the comment during a recent Brussels workshop run by the European ITS and C-roads platforms to assess results of road corridor pilots. The latter is a joint initiative by EU member states and road operators to test and implement C-ITS services for universal harmonisation and interoperability. We can, he continued, deploy systems
  • Entries open for ITS America’s 10th student essay competition
    January 18, 2019
    US college and university students are being invited to submit their thoughts on the future of mobility in an ITS America scheme which offers a $1,000 prize. Submissions will be accepted until 14 April for the competition, which is sponsored by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI). As well as the cash, the winner will get a paid trip to Washington, DC for the ITS America 2019 annual meeting on 4-7 June. They will need to write something on the topic: “How do you envision disruptive technologies impact
  • NACTO updates city micromobility guide
    September 17, 2019
    The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) has updated a guide which it says helps US cities regulate and manage micromobility companies. NACTO president Seleta Reynolds says: “NACTO’s guidance provides crucial steps for cities to ensure that new mobility options benefit the public good, from best-practice data management to real-world examples on coordinating across neighbouring municipalities.” Guidelines for Regulating Shared Micromobility covers options for regulation for microm
  • NKM Mobilities installs Tritium fast chargers in Hungary
    July 18, 2018
    NKM Mobilitas will install 12 of Tritium’s Veefil-RT 50kW DC fast chargers along main traffic routes in Hungary during the second half of 2018. The roll-out is part of a wider ambition to establish a charging network throughout the country. The company is a subsidiary of National Utilities, the state Hungarian provider which supplies gas and electricity to households in the country. NKM Mobilitas plans to work with local governments and municipalities to implement 100 e-chargers across Hungary by the