This is the thread where we get hype for the Hyperloop

[archibaldcrane]

Baller-as-fuck real-life-Tony-Stark Tesla-and-SpaceX-CEO South-African-billionaire Elon Musk has put out an Alpha phase document for what he calls the "Hyperloop" - a near-vacuum tube through which pods are sent carrying people (and/or possibly cars) between cities hundreds of miles apart at supersonic speeds (somewhere around 800mph). His goal is to create a fifth form of cheaper, safer, and faster transportation to fill the hole where cars, airplanes, and trains fall short.

Here is his preliminary plan, to link Los Angeles to SF:
http://www.teslamotors.com/sites/def...loop-alpha.pdf

[Tyche]

But he's not building or planning on building it. It's just a plan. He essentially said "here's how I would do it, here's what I think it'll cost, now someone else go and do it". I doubt it'll ever happen.

[Seiji Okita]

Baller-as-fuck real-life-Tony-Stark Tesla-and-SpaceX-CEO South-African-billionaire Elon Musk has put out an Alpha phase document for what he calls the "Hyperloop" - a near-vacuum tube through which pods are sent carrying people (and/or possibly cars) between cities hundreds of miles apart at supersonic speeds (somewhere around 800mph). His goal is to create a fifth form of cheaper, safer, and faster transportation to fill the hole where cars, airplanes, and trains fall short.

Here is his preliminary plan, to link Los Angeles to SF:
http://www.teslamotors.com/sites/def...loop-alpha.pdf

I saw this on the news today lol, I think the speed they quoted was 1200mph. Would be interesting to say the least. Also something about the original draft for this idea came about in the '70s?

[Tajin]

So its basically a huge implementation of what supermarkets have to send the money out from registers. Its going to cost a fuckton of dollars, to build and a trillion fucking dollars to power the thing. Didn't bother reading the draft.

[archibaldcrane]

So its basically a huge implementation of what supermarkets have to send the money out from registers. Its going to cost a fuckton of dollars, to build and a trillion fucking dollars to power the thing. Didn't bother reading the draft.

Clearly.

[Tyche]

It costs 1/10th of the NQ bullet train they're proposing. Still likely will not happen anytime reasonably soon however.

[Fievel]

Interesting read, would be pretty damn cool if it were actually created. Doubtful we'll ever see something like this, though.

[Ksandra]

But he's not building or planning on building it. It's just a plan. He essentially said "here's how I would do it, here's what I think it'll cost, now someone else go and do it". I doubt it'll ever happen.

^ Ya this is the part that sucks. I saw this earlier on the news, and it doesn't sound like he has any interest in actually doing this, just showing how it's a good idea.

[archibaldcrane]

http://gizmodo.com/we-need-more-idea...oop-1114120227

Sure is a lot of debbie downers in this thread, this is the get hype thread.

[Chun Liroy]

So a real life futurama tubes? Cool, I say rock on.

SO HYPE.

[Seiji Okita]

I just don't see how this is realistic, we have ageing infrastructure across the US, a serious investment needs to be made and it's not happening.

Without going on to some political tangent, it's just hard to imagine an established system of super-speed vacuum tubes anytime in the nert future.

[quannum]

I swear it's California's only choice, throw up your hands and raise your voice.

[Correction]

http://i.minus.com/iYaEpQq4DxRpu.jpg

[Cantih]

Since there are already plans for normal HSR from LA to SF, I'd say put them on hold, or slow them a little, and prioritize making a test hyperloop from LA to SD.
It's shorter, and they weren't planning to extend the HSR to SD any time soon anyway, so it doesn't get in the way.

If that works out, fast track extending the loop to SF, then Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver.

(Alternately, you could do LA - Las Vegas instead, since there are no HSR plans in that direction at all.)

[Jaybar]

Sounds interesting, but I'm still more concerned about inter-city transportation investments rather than intra-city. Some major metropolitan areas do well (and some not so well) such as San Fran - but I can't say the same about LA. A lot of dense suburban neighborhoods are more often in need of better forms of transportation in their own city limits, let alone a link to a far-away metropolitan area.

I am hyped, however, at the increased pace that the US is tending towards megalopolis-like connections, but that pace is not being followed by infrastructure. We are still stuck in the 40s with highways and cars being the ultimate form of commuting. This is why I'm not going to put my voice behind this hyperloop yet.

[Genosync]

This needs a test project, stat.

I don't even live in California, but this is potentially the future of commuting.

[Skjie]

Fuck the haters. At least someone is thinking the big thoughts.

[Ksandra]

Sounds interesting, but I'm still more concerned about inter-city transportation investments rather than intra-city. Some major metropolitan areas do well (and some not so well) such as San Fran - but I can't say the same about LA. A lot of dense suburban neighborhoods are more often in need of better forms of transportation in their own city limits, let alone a link to a far-away metropolitan area.

After living in LA for about two years, I couldn't agree more. I haven't driven to San Fran, but I can say at least traveling from LA to SD = not so bad. Traveling within LA = total shitballs.

[archibaldcrane]

LA is extremely spread out, limiting the effectiveness of light rail, but that being said they are continuing to expand the subway/rail system, including into Santa Monica and Venice.

[Pharaun]

First thing I thought of.