Don’t believe the hype over hyperloop
In one respect, I am at one with the supporters of HS2. I agree with their dismissal of claims, supported by Richard Branson, that a hyperloop (originally developed by Elon Musk, the boss of Tesla and proponent of creating a Martian settlement) might be the answer to our inter-city transport problems.
The idea made headlines earlier this month with the prospect of a 700mph system linking London and Scotland. However, even though several countries are apparently considering this technology and have signed deals for research and development, little of the concept seems to hold water.
Travelling at 700mph in a very confined space in a small capsule that necessarily has to be light does not seem like an attractive prospect, compared with well-tried technologies such as railways and aircraft. The safety issues seem to me insuperable. In any case, the 700mph concept seems to have been discarded in favour of a 300mph model which is not that significantly faster than HS2 and a damned sight less pleasant.
Musk had originally wanted to put his tubes above ground, but is now suggesting they should be underground, possibly because his scientists realised that the expansion of tubes exposed to the hot sun in California, where he first proposed a line should be built, would cause major problems.
I am fast turning into a bit of an old curmudgeon on supposed transport technology breakthroughs, as I have just finished a short book on why driverless cars will never happen - or at least will not take over the world in the way that their supporters are suggesting. Watch out for Driverless Cars: on the road to nowhere in January.
My scepticism is based on being familiar with many inventions of the past which have not seen the light of day, or which have only been developed in a limited or niche way, because of the inherent problems and the fact that they represent a radically different technological path to the one that has been the subject of massive investment. Maglev, monorail, airships, flying boats, hovercraft, personalised jet packs, Sinclair C5… I’m sure readers can have fun suggesting a few more.