Hyperloop Gets its First Human Test Subjects

It has a long way to go to match the speed and capacity of high-speed rail technology, but at least the Hyperloop has achieved one critical benchmark: a test involving human passengers.

1 minute read

November 11, 2020, 8:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


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"Virgin Hyperloop announced that for the first time it has conducted a test of its ultra-fast transportation system with human passenger," reports Andrew J. Hawkins.

"The test took place on Sunday afternoon at the company’s DevLoop test track in the desert outside Las Vegas, Nevada," according to Hawkins. "The first two passengers were Virgin Hyperloop’s chief technology officer and co-founder, Josh Giegel, and head of passenger experience, Sara Luchian."

The pod achieved a speed of 100 mph on the 500-meter-long track. "The company says it has conducted over 400 tests on that track, but never before with human passengers — until [November 8]," according to Hawkins.

The article includes details of how far the technology has to go to reach its theoretical potential—or even the reality of existing high-speed rail technology.

Virgin Hyperloop since released video of the test on YouTube, shown above.

Various media outlets picked up news of the test, including Smart Cities Dive and CNN Business.

Tuesday, November 10, 2020 in The Verge

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

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