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Dubai's Hyperloop could be built within four years - and will be on-demand

It looks impressively futuristic.


BIG / Vimeo

HIGH-SPEED TRANSPORT between Abu Dhabi and Dubai will take just 12 minutes from 2020.

That is if an ambitious plan for a Hyperloop come true. The plan was formalised by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and Hyperloop One and would move people three times quicker than flying.

The autonomous system would see passengers loaded into pods which are then put into tubes which are sent through tubes at high speeds.

Last month, Hyperloop One signed a deal with the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

Hyperloop Hyperloop's Emirates Towers portal Hyperloop One Hyperloop One

Bjarke Ingels of BIG says the plan will be a completely new paradigm in mass transit. Passengers will be able to demand travel because pods are small, frequent and have a high departure rate.

“With Hyperloop One we have given form to a mobility ecosystem of pods and portals, where the waiting hall has vanished along with waiting itself. Hyperloop One combines collective commuting with individual freedom at near supersonic speed.

Group A group pod on Hyperloop

“We are heading for a future where our mental map of the city is completely reconfigured, as our habitual understanding of distance and proximity – time and space – is warped by this virgin form of travel.”

According to BIG, the design of the scheme is based on a study of “how an urban and inter-city transport network should integrate with existing infrastructure.”

The pods are contained within a transporter, a pressure vessel attached to a chassis for levitation and propulsion that can accelerate the transporter to 1,100km/h.

Burj The view of the Burj Khalifa Hyperportal from the building. Hyperloop One Hyperloop One

The pods operate autonomously from the transporter, which means they are not limited to the portal area and can move on regular roads and pick up passengers at any point.

Read: A test track for an 800mph train is being built

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36 Comments
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    Mute Jason
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    Dec 20th 2019, 4:34 PM

    Was driving in it today and the amount of people driving around with no lights on was unreal. People turn your lights on!!

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    Mute Sequoia
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    Dec 20th 2019, 4:28 PM

    It’s the yellow snow you have to be careful of.

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    Mute Mick Ryan
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    Dec 20th 2019, 4:28 PM

    Yeah, about that. It’s been foggy as fk since 5am in Galway. Nice goin.

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    Mute Brian Ó Dálaigh
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    Dec 20th 2019, 4:32 PM

    @Mick Ryan: Met Éireann issued the warning yesterday. Media reported it today. Met Éireann blamed for the media not doing its job.

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    Mute Darren Byrne
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    Dec 20th 2019, 4:40 PM

    @Brian Ó Dálaigh: if you’ve got access to the journal you be got access to met eireann site

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    Mute Dave Hammond
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    Dec 20th 2019, 4:40 PM

    @Brian Ó Dálaigh: yeah everything is the fault of the media – Met Eireann are such an exemplary organisation that they never make any mistakes – I mean I literally can’t think of one mistake by Met Eireann.

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    Mute Mirabelle Stonegate
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    Dec 20th 2019, 5:31 PM

    @Darren Byrne: it’s not a site most people look at unless prompted.

    I tend to forget it exists until someone mentions a weather warning to me. And considering that only either happens here, or from someone directly informing me, how else would i find out important information?

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    Mute Conor Egan
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    Dec 20th 2019, 5:43 PM

    @Mirabelle Stonegate: you can download the Met Éireann app and you can set it to send notifications when a warning is issued.

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    Mute Brian Ó Dálaigh
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    Dec 20th 2019, 10:24 PM

    @Dave Hammond: I never said MÉ were an exemplary organisation. Nor did I say they never make mistakes. However, the original comment, to which I replied, implied that Met Éireann failed to notify, when in fact they had notified. This is a common trait among Irish people – blame the wrong person.

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    Mute Ian Heaton / Eoin De Héadún
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    Dec 20th 2019, 4:29 PM

    Never seen yellow fog before. Could that be toxic?

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    Mute James O'Donovan
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    Dec 20th 2019, 4:28 PM

    It’s actually just clearing here in Cork now.

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    Mute Jason O Brien
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    Dec 20th 2019, 4:31 PM

    @James O’Donovan: I don’t know what part of cork your in but it’s as bad as ever around the city

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    Mute James O'Donovan
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    Dec 20th 2019, 4:48 PM

    @Jason O Brien: Wilton area. Totally clear here now. Could barely see 200 yards all day up until now.

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    Mute Colm Hanlon
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    Dec 20th 2019, 5:19 PM

    Jesus the North are getting another grey warning.

    This is scandalous!

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    Mute Levante Dublin
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    Dec 20th 2019, 7:10 PM

    @Colm Hanlon: nationwide apart from the 6 counties. Journal sell out.

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    Mute Paul Murphy
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    Dec 20th 2019, 10:02 PM

    @Colm Hanlon: Fog is kinda grey…better than yellow fog…which tends to be mustard gas

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    Mute Jh2019
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    Dec 20th 2019, 4:30 PM

    I think most drivers will be in a fog of their own

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    Mute WoodlandBard
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    Dec 20th 2019, 4:38 PM

    Yellow fog, that’s a new one here?

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    Mute Mark
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    Dec 20th 2019, 4:42 PM

    If you see yellow fog please call a doctor

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