Riding High-Speed Rail or Shooting through a Hyperloop Tube

Posted By: W. Steve Wilson

Posted: April 5, 2021

The Biden Administration has released a plan to rebuild various components of the United States infrastructure. These components include, among other things, roads and bridges, ports and airports, the electrical grid and broadband, and—railroads.

Circulating on social media and the Internet are several maps showing expanded Amtrak routes and a hoped-for High-Speed Rail network –

[Credit: www.axios.com  Link: AmTrak Map]  

[Credit: www.businessinsider.com  Link: HSR Map]

It’s hard to say if either of these maps will become a reality, but it’s something to think about.

Riding the Rails

Although I’ve “ridden the rails” in the past, I must admit that I opt for driving or flying like many people. I wonder if a high-speed rail line would induce me to make a different choice. You might be considering a similar question.

One way to think about it would be to consider where I’d travel. I might go from my home in Chicago to St. Louis—a five-hour drive or a two-hour train ride (after I drive to the train station.) I’d likely drive. But to Orlando, 1200 miles? I’ve made that drive—never again. Flying gets me there in about two-and-a-half hours, high-speed rail in six—maybe, with no stops. If it’s comparable in price—I just might make the switch if the time spent at the train station is minimal.

Now let’s consider Los Angeles or Seattle, both about 2,000 miles. Flight times are four-and-a-half to five hours. High-speed rail would be about ten hours (assuming 200 mph) with no stops. I’d probably still fly. It looks like my choices are similar to passengers around the world. China and Europe’s results indicate high-speed rail works best in middle-distance, high volume markets—from 90 to 750 miles. Shorter distances, people drive for longer distances, they fly.

Hyperloop Travel

But there could be a third option—the Hyperloop. Hyperloop travel is via a pod, driven at high speed. Due to air friction, these pods would run in a vacuum in a tub or tunnel. Companies right now are working on proofs of concept and prototypes. The Smithsonian is launching an exhibition entitled Futures, running from November 2021 through July 2022. Virgin Hyperloop is a featured exhibitor with their groundbreaking vehicle, the Pegasus XP-2, the first vehicle to carry hyperloop passengers.

To get a feel for how hyperloop travel might be, check out this video from Virgin Hyperloop—The Passenger Experience

A hyperloop pod could travel theoretically at speeds approaching 750 miles per hour—Chicago to Los Angeles in three hours. Terminals could require smaller footprints—no runways, maybe even located in downtown urban locations. Passenger volume is adjustable, departure times flexible, and all powered by renewable energy. Now that would get me off an airplane.

Final Thought

Once we colonize the Moon and Mars, “rail” travel might be our only option. Without an appreciable atmosphere (yes, the Moon does have an extremely rarified atmosphere), air travel, as we conceive of it now, just won’t work. [Note: in an upcoming blog, I’ll talk about the Mars Helicopter]. Both environments, however, would be ideal for hyperloops as air friction would be inconsequential.

What combination of speed, convenience, and cost would convince you to take high-speed rail rather than drive or fly? Should we jump ahead and build a hyperloop on some routes? Would you travel 2000 miles in a vacuum tube to get to LA in three hours? Feel free to leave a comment and share your thoughts.

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