Hyperloop in Toulouse: A Dead on Arrival Project?
This page is translated from the original post "L’Hyperloop à Toulouse, un projet mort-né ?" in French.
- 03/01/2023 12:30
What if the Hyperloop was ultimately just a chimera? In Occitanie, where full-scale tests were supposed to take place, some are beginning to question.
A capsule transporting passengers at over 1,200 km/h inside a tube: this is how to define the Hyperloop in a few words. The project, backed by the very media-savvy Elon Musk, has made a lot of noise since its announcement. France, and more specifically the Occitanie region, are directly involved, as a research center has been set up at Toulouse Francazal Airport. However, some local officials are beginning to question the lack of activity around the infrastructure.
Actu Toulouse, Albert Sanchez, the mayor of the town where the large Hyperloop tube is located, expressed his skepticism. According to him, the Hyperloop in the Toulouse region “has almost been forgotten”. “I regularly go to Francazal, and I haven’t seen anyone from Hyperloop in over six months; I don’t even know if they are still there”, he added.
Is Hyperloop Disappearing from Toulouse?
This bitter assessment contrasts with the promises made by American entrepreneurs in charge of Hyperloop TT, who initially promised the creation of about fifty jobs upon their arrival. According to Albert Sanchez, no more than 10 people have ever been employed on site. “At one point, there were six on site, and I don’t even know if any remain”, he told Actu Toulouse.
While the project’s viability is openly being questioned, it is also because Hyperloop TT has never opened its offices to the press or the public. In these conditions, it is hard to know if there is (or was) genuine activity inside the company’s buildings. However, what remains certain is that the tube was installed, and a capsule has been seen on site. But is this enough to guarantee the seriousness of the project? Not in the eyes of Albert Sanchez, who, along with his team, is already preparing to transform the site where Hyperloop is currently located.
Read also: Tesla: Elon Musk announces a steering-wheel-free robotaxi in 2024
We also suggestthese articles:
Also read
