Hyperloop offers utterly transformative spatial planning possibilities. It increases the radius for commuting within an hour from approximately 50 km to about 250 km, effectively increasing the area from which business can attract talent without requiring moving residence by 25 times. In doing so it allows cities to grow towards satellite areas, alleviating housing scarcity and soaring housing prices. As people shift to public transport through hyperloop, it decreases dependence on cars and decreases urban congestion, unlocking tremendous quality of life benefits.
A modal shift from aviation could free up to 70% of airport capacity on major congested airports and/or diverts passengers to other underutilized airports at the same time it takes to go from one gate to another, massively reducing investment need in airport infrastructure and freeing up valuable real estate. Hyperloop also massively increases logistics efficiency, where warehousing can be centralized and reducing warehouse sprawl. Hyperloop is attractive for both passengers and shippers, and - as it does not have the negative external effects that other modalities have - is also the solution that faces the least societal resistance in its implementation. Hyperloop is the future-proof transportation that Policy makers need for a sustainable and hyperconnected planet.
Hyperloop for cargo offers lower transport costs, shorter travel times, higher reliability, more flexibility and more secure shipments with lower energy usage than trucking and aviation for medium- to long-distance travel. As the hyperloop tube is relatively small and easy to integrate into the environment compared to other modalities, it can get close to and even connect directly with shipper's facilities, multi-modal hubs, and city logistics hubs. Due to the transport high capacity the transport is on-demand and due to the relatively small transport units continuous-flow operation is possible. This increases flexibility for shipments, and reduces the time and space needed for consolidation. Due to the isolated tube environment, the shipments are always secured and guaranteed to arrive at their destination intact and in time.
To achieve the above and ensure success it will be essential to acquire governmental support to realize a commercial pilot between 5 and 15 kilometers in Europe. Government support will unlock private funding to complete the hyperloop development.
