Hyperloop for Texas (Houston, Dallas, Austin: insurance, construction, maintenance)

[Midessan]

What do you all think of this?

Hyperloop - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I am opposed to regular HSR because it is expensive and doesn't really offer any benefits over existing modes of transportation, but Hyperloop looks like something I could support.

It costs less than HSR and is much faster than air travel. It can also solve the "last mile" problem by allowing people to transport their cars. Imagine being able to travel from El Paso to Beaumont in a little over 1 hr. Or less.

[xsatyr]

I don't know the logistics of this so I can't really comment on it. But If Texas had a bullet train for the Texas Triangle I would take full advantage of it on the weekends. The ability to go party in Austin, Dallas, etc., would be awesome.

[TX75007]

Both HSR and HL are too expensive. The interest on the capital cost alone would not be economically feasible for either.

The HL has been around a while. The Hyperloop was something I looked at while a student at UT in the 80s. We were interested in extending the rail network over the Pacific. We designed a large floating tunnel suspended under the ocean with a vacuum inside and electric rails. We also look at using small nukes to drive the locomotives.

The cost of the raw materials alone made the project unfeasible in comparison with current shipping costs. Not to mention construction costs, insurance, and then the maintenance and OPEX.

[Komeht]

Originally Posted by Midessan

What do you all think of this?

Hyperloop - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I am opposed to regular HSR because it is expensive and doesn't really offer any benefits over existing modes of transportation, but Hyperloop looks like something I could support.

It costs less than HSR and is much faster than air travel. It can also solve the "last mile" problem by allowing people to transport their cars. Imagine being able to travel from El Paso to Beaumont in a little over 1 hr. Or less.

Cost less: purely speculative - not even a proof of concept has been built, let alone a working full scale prototype. Right now - it's science fiction, slightly more probable than tele transportation.

Faster than air travel: Maybe at certain distances. There's far easier ways to fix air travel though - we can rethink TSA and determine if there is any real value here.

Last Mile Problem: Maybe, see 1 above.

LOL at the El Paso to Beaumont route. I can assure you that no one is going to build HSR or HL or even a hot air balloon for this route.

[ETex2]

An interesting concept but I'm sure I'll never see it in my lifetime. And somehow I think the reality is - this contraption will revolutionize travel the same way that the Segway revolutionized personal mobility.

[Midessan]

Originally Posted by TX75007

Both HSR and HL are too expensive. The interest on the capital cost alone would not be economically feasible for either.

The HL has been around a while. The Hyperloop was something I looked at while a student at UT in the 80s. We were interested in extending the rail network over the Pacific. We designed a large floating tunnel suspended under the ocean with a vacuum inside and electric rails. We also look at using small nukes to drive the locomotives.

The cost of the raw materials alone made the project unfeasible in comparison with current shipping costs. Not to mention construction costs, insurance, and then the maintenance and OPEX.

That is interesting. Musk claims that it will only cost 1/10th what HSR costs, and would be powered by solar panels on the tubes. Maybe the materials and technology have improved enough since the 80's to make it feasible now.

Originally Posted by Komeht

Cost less: purely speculative - not even a proof of concept has been built, let alone a working full scale prototype. Right now - it's science fiction, slightly more probable than tele transportation.

Faster than air travel: Maybe at certain distances. There's far easier ways to fix air travel though - we can rethink TSA and determine if there is any real value here.

Last Mile Problem: Maybe, see 1 above.

LOL at the El Paso to Beaumont route. I can assure you that no one is going to build HSR or HL or even a hot air balloon for this route.

I wouldn't say that it is Sci Fi, but even teleportation has been demonstrated in the lab. We can only teleport atoms and sub atomic particles right now but the basics principles are understood.

I think we will have working teleportation before we fix the TSA, too many chushy government jobs at stake.

I know that an El Paso to Beaumont route would never be built. I was just using it as an example because they are far apart. This project would certainly start with the usual Houston to Dallas line that every proposed transportation project in Texas begins with.

Originally Posted by ETex2

An interesting concept but I'm sure I'll never see it in my lifetime. And somehow I think the reality is - this contraption will revolutionize travel the same way that the Segway revolutionized personal mobility.

Yeah, I remember when I first heard about the Segway, or project Ginger as it was called then. A new mode of transportation that would revolutionize the way we travel and change the design of our cities... turned out to be a glorified scooter.

[Komeht]

Originally Posted by Midessan

That is interesting. Musk claims that it will only cost 1/10th what HSR costs, and would be powered by solar panels on the tubes. Maybe the materials and technology have improved enough since the 80's to make it feasible now.



I wouldn't say that it is Sci Fi, but even teleportation has been demonstrated in the lab. We can only teleport atoms and sub atomic particles right now but the basics principles are understood.

I think we will have working teleportation before we fix the TSA, too many chushy government jobs at stake.

I know that an El Paso to Beaumont route would never be built. I was just using it as an example because they are far apart. This project would certainly start with the usual Houston to Dallas line that every proposed transportation project in Texas begins with.



Yeah, I remember when I first heard about the Segway, or project Ginger as it was called then. A new mode of transportation that would revolutionize the way we travel and change the design of our cities... turned out to be a glorified scooter.

Dood, what are you smoking? It is seriously powerful.

[OkiePoke]

Originally Posted by test icicle

That would cross the sound barrier.

Put some test monkeys in there first...

Kind of, but not really. From my understanding of the HL concept, which I glanced at before it was announced, the air in the system would be traveling at the same speed (roughly) as the train. This would prevent a lot of the issue of increased drag. From the outside though, it would be traveling faster than the speed of sound, at sea level.

[Komeht]

Originally Posted by OkiePoke

Kind of, but not really. From my understanding of the HL concept, which I glanced at before it was announced, the air in the system would be traveling at the same speed (roughly) as the train. This would prevent a lot of the issue of increased drag. From the outside though, it would be traveling faster than the speed of sound, at sea level.

I guess you didn't bother to read Elon Musks proposal before you posted this did you?

[dallasboi]

How long would it take to build this? Freeway projects take YEARS to complete just 15-20 miles. I can only imagine how many years it would take to build 250 miles(Dallas to Houston 1st phase).

Oh and I know freeway construction might be a little more complicated than this tube but its just so many more miles of tube to build.