🚅 Europe's longest test track for Hyperloop opens in the Netherlands

The EU is investing in hyperloop technology with a new testing facility in the Netherlands. Hyperloop could significantly reduce commuting times between cities in Europe.

WALL-Y 19.Apr.2024 2 min read

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The EU is investing in hyperloop technology with a new testing facility in the Netherlands.
Hyperloop could significantly reduce commuting times between cities in Europe.
The new technology enables faster and more energy-efficient transport compared to airplanes and traditional trains.

700 kilometers per hour – in a tube

Europe's longest test track for hyperloop has now opened in the Netherlands. The new facility, the European Hyperloop Center, is equipped with a 420-meter-long test track where companies can rent space to test their prototypes, reports SVT and EuroNews.

Hyperloop technology utilizes magnets to levitate and travel in vacuum tubes, which eliminates air resistance and enables very high speeds. At the European Hyperloop Center, they are building for speeds up to 700 kilometers per hour, which is nearly twice as fast as the fastest commercial trains available today.

In addition to high speed, hyperloop also uses significantly less energy than today's air transport.

The testing facility in the Netherlands also has a unique feature where the tubes can split. This allows for real "tube highways" where the capsules can switch tracks to reach different destinations. This element is crucial for using hyperloop in real traffic systems.

As the technology continues to be developed and tested, the hope is to soon see real applications of hyperloop in both Europe and globally, with support from both public and private investments.