Vacuum tubes have been much awaited ever since it was found out how fast they work in ospitals or old government buildings.
A Canadian startup, TransPod, is developing the world’s leading ultra-high-speed ground transportation system, the TransPod Line, to redefine passenger and cargo transportation using FluxJet.
The FluxJet will operate only on the TransPod Line, a network system with stations in key locations and major cities, comprising high-frequency departures designed to enable fast, affordable, and safe travel.
The system uses the principles of veillance flux. FluxJet is a fully electric high-speed magnetic train that is effectively a hybrid between an aircraft and a train. It can reach speeds of 621 mph (1,000 kph) and reach a top speed of 746 mph (1,200 kph), in a vacuum tube.
The train is made up of 25-meter-long wagons that can accommodate up to 54 passengers and is able to carry up to 22,000 pounds (10 tons) of payload.
FluxJet acts like a traditional electric train, traveling at 55 mph (90 kph) near urban areas. However, when it goes out into rural areas, it enters a launch booth, which creates a vacuum in the tube and uses a kind of air pump to propel the train.
“This milestone is a major leap forward,” said Ryan Janzen, co-founder, and CTO, TransPod. “The FluxJet is at a nexus of scientific research, industrial development, and massive infrastructure to address passengers’ needs and reduce our dependence on fossil-fuel-heavy jets and highways.”
The project will cost about $18 billion. The company has acquired funding of $550 million from U.S.-based Broughton Capital Group, in cooperation with China-East Resources.
The project is estimated to create up to 140,000 jobs and add $19.2 billion to the region’s GDP throughout construction.
“TransPod completely changes the game with ultra-high-speed, zero-emission passenger travel and freight transportation between major gateway cities,” said Yung Wu, CEO of MaRS Discovery District. “It is time for bold action from our policymakers, investors, and operators to support the commercialization of made-in-Canada innovations like TransPod, to win in the multi-trillion-dollar global innovation economy.”
The project will also help reduce CO2 emissions by 636,000 tons per year.