Hyperloop Sounds Cool But I’m Betting It Won’t Happen

Apparently, some people are working on some sort of massive vacuum tube/magnetic levitation system that could enable transport between LA and NYC in about 45 minutes. Though it sounds like the idea is technologically within reach and sounds really cool, I’m doubting that this is actually going to happen.

We’ve heard about this sort of thing before. Given that, why don’t we already have it? Why am I so skeptical? Elon Musk’s (apparently one of the people behind this) description of the project as  “a cross between a Concorde, a railgun and an air hockey table” yields an important clue. At least from what I’ve heard, a major reason behind the grounding of the Concorde was that it was too expensive.

Sure, we need faster and faster travel. Sure, airports suck and are getting worse. Sure, things are only going to get worse and worse as population increases. However, the US seems to be having problem coming up with money just to keep our bridges and other infrastructure maintained. Can anyone really come up with the money to actually put Hyperloop into action?

I hope so, but I’m kind of doubting it. Think of just between NYC and LA. Beyond the vehicle itself and the mechanism, we’d need to construct over 2700 miles of tube. Think of just how much material that would require. Think of how much the land rights would cost. Think of how much construction labor would be required. The cost would be staggering…and I’m just betting that people end up getting too staggered and put away their wallets.

This all sounds really cool, and I don’t know…maybe the rich eccentrics will find a way to pull this off. It’d be an amazing achievement. Still, given the way that so many other dream-big projects have turned out, I’m betting this one doesn’t end up actually being realized anytime soon.