Traveling at speeds of 1000 km/h might seem like a plot point straight out of a science fiction movie, but what if we tell you that it might soon become a reality? India is working on its ambitious hyperloop train project, and if it achieves success, travel time between cities will be drastically reduced. Here’s all the information you need to know about India’s ambitious hyperloop technology.
What Is Hyperloop Train Technology
It is quite possible to be a little confused about this new technology that has suddenly become a buzzword. Well, to begin with, a hyperloop is a mass transportation facility that runs at ultra-high speeds.
This technology was first conceptualized by American entrepreneur Elon Musk, and since then, tech companies around the world are working to crack the code to a full-fledged hyperloop train system.
The hyperloop system would consist of a steel tube network where pods would travel through a near-vacuum environment. This technology will rely on the principles of magnetic levitation and propulsion. What this means is that it will allow trains to achieve record-breaking speeds of over 1000 km/h!
Hyperloop technology is definitely an expensive affair, but this technology has the potential to significantly cut down our greenhouse gas emissions.
It could also cut down on air and noise pollution, traffic congestion, and train accidents drastically while making energy consumption efficient.
Hyperloop Train Test Track At IIT Madras
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) has remained at the forefront of developing newer technology for India’s development. And so when it comes to the hyperloop project, IIT is working relentlessly to make a breakthrough.
For this project, IIT Madras has assembled a special 76-member team called Avishkar Hyperloop that’ll collaborate with the Indian Railways and TuTr Hyperloop Private Limited. IIT Madras is testing the hyperloop technology by installing a 422-meter test track.
The track holds the record for being the largest student-run facility for this technology in the world. Once successfully completed, the hyperloop project in India can even be a global milestone in transportation technology!
1 Million USD Grant To IIT Madras
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently announced a USD 1 million grant to IIT Madras to continue working on the hyperloop project. With research and development granted by the government, IIT is leaving no stone unturned to develop a technology that could forever alter traveling in India.
Once testing in the 422-meter test track is completed, it is expected that the technology will enable ultra-high-speed train travel.
This travel will take place in near-vacuum tubes that will allow the train to achieve groundbreaking speeds of over 1000 kilometers per hour (km/h).
This speed is so high that it also rivals traditional aircraft speeds! What this means is that it will drastically reduce long-distance travel, meaning the journey that would typically take 6 to 10 hours can be completed in just within an hour!
How the Hyperloop Project In India Can Revolutionize Transportation Infrastructure
India is testing advanced technology to make public transport infrastructure more and more efficient. This includes advancements made with the launch of Vande Bharat semi-high-speed trains and the construction of world-class railway infrastructure like bridges and tunnels.
There are other ambitious plans, such as the Dubai-Mumbai underwater trai,n that will alter the course of railway travel in India.
If the hyperloop train project becomes a success, it will mark a new milestone in Indian railway infrastructure. In fact, the Mumbai-Pune route has been selected as the first full-scale Hyperloop system in India.
A one-way journey between the two cities takes about 3 to 4 hours, however, the Mumbai Pune hyperloop system will cut down the time to just 25 minutes!
In fact, a Pune-based startup, Quintrans Hyperloop, is working on launching its operational cargo hyperloop system by 2027-28.
Summing Up
India is ushering into a new era of transportation infrastructure with the rise of newer technology. However, that comes with its own set of challenges, with corruption, lack of adequate funding, and terrain challenges being a few of them.
If the hyperloop system tackles these challenges and becomes a reality, you could easily travel between cities in just a few minutes or within hours.
After all, public transportation deserves to be efficient, fast, and affordable!
