Virgin to build 35km Saudi hyperloop test track

Virgin Hyperloop One is working with Saudi Arabia’s Economic City Authority (ECA) to conduct a study to build a 35km test and certification track. The company claims its technology can reduce travel times between cities: it says the trip from Riyadh to the Red Sea port of Jeddah would be slashed from 10 hours to 76 minutes, for example, with the Riyadh-Abu Dhabi route cut from 8.5 hours to 48 minutes. The study will take place in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), located 100km north of Jeddah. It w
August 1, 2019 Read time: 2 mins

Virgin 8535 Hyperloop One is working with Saudi Arabia’s Economic City Authority (ECA) to conduct a study to build a 35km test and certification track.

The company claims its technology can reduce travel times between cities: it says the trip from Riyadh to the Red Sea port of Jeddah would be slashed from 10 hours to 76 minutes, for example, with the Riyadh-Abu Dhabi route cut from 8.5 hours to 48 minutes.

The study will take place in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), located 100km north of Jeddah. It will also include the construction of an R&D development centre and manufacturing facility.

Mohanud A. Helal, secretary general of ECA, says:” Having Hyperloop at KAEC is going to act as a catalyst for a Saudi Silicon Valley effect and galvanise our software development, high technology research and manufacturing industries.”

As part of the project, the Prince Mohammad bin Salman College of Business and Entrepreneurship will publish an academic paper outlining the economic impact of a Hyperloop Centre of Excellence in KAEC. Additionally, experts from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology will visit the Virgin Hyperloop One testing facility in Nevada to conduct a technical review.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Hyperloop to launch commercial system in Ukraine
    June 18, 2018
    Hyperloop Transportation Technologies has partnered with the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine to create a commercial Hyperloop system. The project’s first phase will utilise a 10km track to create a legal framework to certify the system before extending to a broader network which will play a major role in connecting Europe and Asia, says Hyperloop. Volodymyr Omelyan, minister of infrastructure, says the technology will help the country create a smart and sustainable transportation infrastructure.
    Read More
  • Digital twins promise no jam tomorrow
    June 6, 2024
    Every year, Transport for London helps make billions of road journeys congestion-free - but could it do better? Digital twin and graph technology are starting to make London less congested and greener, says database expert Aaron Holt
    Read More
  • #ITSDubai2024: Driving the future of mobility through ITS
    August 30, 2024
    The ITS World Congress 2024, set to take place in Dubai from September 16-20, promises to be a landmark event for the global ITS community. Here is an in-depth look at what visitors can expect from their time at the cutting edge of mobility technology...
    Read More
  • Multimodal link-up in Vancouver
    July 2, 2024
    Metro Vancouver sees the value in seamless travel between modes and is pushing ahead with a new pilot designed to make it a reality. David Arminas reports on the RideLink project
    Read More

Highlighted Content