Analysis and modelling of performances of the HL (Hyperloop) transport system

Abstract

Introduction: Hyperloop (HL) is presented as an efficient alternative of HSR (High Speed Rail) and APT (Air Passenger Transport) systems for long-distance passenger transport. This paper explores the performances of HL and compares these performances to HSR and APT. Methods: The following performances of the HL system are analytically modeled and compared to HSR and APT: (i) operational performance; (ii) financial performance; (iii) social/environmental performance. Results: The main operational result is that the capacity of HL is low which implies a low utilization of the infrastructure. Because the infrastructure costs dominate the total costs, the costs per passenger km are high compared to those for HSR and APT. The HL performs very well regarding the social/environmental aspects because of low energy use, no GHG emissions and hardly any noise. The safety performance needs further consideration. Conclusions: The HL system is promising for relieving the environmental pressure of long-distance travelling, but has disadvantages regarding the operational and financial performances.

How Can Autonomous and Connected Vehicles, Electromobility, BRT, Hyperloop, Shared Use Mobility and Mobility-As-A-Service Shape Transport Futures for the Context of Smart Cities?

“…Hyperloop is projected to have a relatively strong performance on social and environmental performance criteria and can potentially be a very safe mode but at the same time might end up being more expensive than what its investors aspire to be since the low capacity, due to the small vehicles, may lead to high break-even fares that might be more applicable for the premium passenger transport market [61]. Hyperloop is still a very novel and untested concept that can develop in many different ways.…”

Hyperloop transport technology assessment and system analysis

“…The infrastructure construction costs depend in the first instance on the number of tubes, the total length of the Hyperloop line, the number of stations and platforms, as well as on the length of elevated and underground sections, the level above/below the ground or sea, respectively, geological characteristics of the subsurface, and finally the civil construction costs for the pylons, tunnels and tubes. A third best guess of the unit construction costs per kilometre of a single tube Hyperloop elevated guideway may be derived from the reported construction costs for the Transrapid Maglev airport line in Shanghai, which amounted to around €40 million (US$47 million) per track in 2015 (Van Goeverden et al 2018). The projected construction costs for the proposed 93-mile Hyperloop line from Abu Dhabi to Dubai by Virgin Hyperloop One were US$4.8 billion or about US$52 million per mile (Konrad and Ohnsman 2016).…”

“…The number of accessible scientific studies is still rather limited. They focus on particular aspects of the Hyperloop, such as design and simulation of the electro-magnetic levitation force through a short-stator linear synchronous motor (Abdelrahman, Sayeed, and Youssef 2018), aerodynamic design of the vehicle (Braun, Sousa, and Pekardan 2017;Opgenoord and Caplan 2018) and simulation (Wang et al 2017), respectively, dynamics of the tube structure and vehicle interaction (Janzen 2017), sizing models for the passenger pod (Chin et al 2015), sizing and feasibility study for a magnetic plane concept (Decker et al 2017), impact on bridge dynamics (Alexander and Kashani 2018) or earthquakes (Heaton 2017), as well as more general technical, operational, economic, social/environmental analyses (Van Goeverden et al 2018;Doppelbauer 2018). Surprisingly, none of the above studies has mentioned or reviewed the earlier Swissmetro concept developed by researchers from Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne/Switzerland in the period 1990-2007 (Pot and Trottet 1999;Cassat and Jufer 2002;Swissmetro 2003;Cassat and Bourquin 2011).…”

Prospects of Hyperloop Transportation Technology: A Case of China

“…The fact is that the possible depressurization of the passenger capsule at the chosen pressure value in the tube leads to the instant death of passengers. To solve this problem each passenger should be dressed up with special suit like spacesuits [7]. However, if we do pressurize the passenger pod with air pressure, which pressure is suitable for human body then also, we can sort out this kind of issue.…”