Virgin backs hyperloop project between Montreal and Toronto
The chance of a Hyperloop One route between Montreal and Toronto could be one step closer to reality.
Richard Branson, one of the world’s most well-known entrepreneurs, and his multinational company Virgin have invested in Hyperloop One.
“The Virgin Group and Hyperloop One will be entering into a global strategic partnership focused on passenger and mixed-use cargo service. As part of the partnership, our company’s name will be changing to Virgin Hyperloop One over the coming months,” said Hyperloop One in a release.
“Virgin and Hyperloop One working together presents a differentiated brand that’s instantly recognizable around the world and lends tremendous credibility as we scale.”
While there is no confirmation that a hyperloop route will be built between Montreal and Toronto, the new Virgin partnership could make this route a possibility in the future.
In May 2016, Hyperloop One held a global competition to narrow down possible cities where the company could build one of its first routes in the world. Then, just last month, they revealed Toronto to Montreal as one of its top choices to build the first hyperloop high-speed travel system.
According to Hyperloop One, the proposed route between the two cities connects Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto and would “create a Canadian mega region as much as a quarter of the country’s population.”
If the system is built commuters would be able to travel from:
- Toronto to Montreal (640 km) in 39 minutes
- Toronto to Ottawa (450 km) in 27 minutes
- Ottawa to Montreal (190 km) in 12 minutes
The system works by loading passengers and cargo into a pod and accelerating gradually via electric propulsion through a low-pressure tube.
The pod then lifts above the track using magnetic levitation and glides at airline speeds for long distances due to the ultra low aerodynamic drag.
The company completed the first successful full-scale hyperloop test this summer.
There’s still a long way to go before Montreal-Toronto route gets built but this news is defintiely getting our hopes up!
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