The European Hyperloop Centre in Veendam, Netherlands, has unveiled the longest hyperloop test track in Europe, rekindling hopes for the future of high-speed tube transport. Although the current 420-meter-long test pipe falls short of the 3-kilometer track envisioned in 2020, it serves as a pivotal moment in proving the hyperloop’s feasibility. Let’s dive into the details.
The Test Track: A Forked White Pipe
The European Hyperloop Centre’s test bed consists of 34 interconnected prefabricated steel cylinders, forming a white pipe that runs alongside existing railway and road infrastructure. While its length is modest, this facility allows engineers to explore critical aspects of hyperloop technology.
Lane Switch Testing
The forked design of the Veendam pipe enables engineers to test “lane switches.” Imagine a high-speed vehicle changing course at a junction. One path might lead to Paris, while the other heads toward Berlin. These tests, conducted by Dutch company Hardt Hyperloop, will provide valuable insights into the practical challenges of network expansion.
The Hyperloop Vision
Elon Musk introduced the hyperloop concept in 2013—a vision of magnetically propelled shuttles hurtling through near-vacuum tubes at speeds rivaling airplanes. Richard Branson’s Virgin-branded company tested a passenger capsule in Nevada in 2020, but subsequent setbacks led to its collapse. However, Sascha Lamme, director of the European Hyperloop Centre, remains optimistic. He envisions a pan-European hyperloop network connecting cities like Amsterdam and Barcelona within a few decades.