A consortium* of 27 organisations across 13 countries launched the EU Hyper4Rail project for the harmonisation and industrialisation of hyperloop technology.
The 24-month Hyper4Rail has been launched in December 2024 and is co-Funded by the Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking (EU-Rail), aiming at advancing the development of hyperloop, a concept for magnetically levitated trains running at high speeds inside nearly airless tubes.
As the hyperloop technology is still in its early stages and there is a lack of standardisation across developers, Hyper4Rail offers the opportunity to build consensus on industrialisation, safety, regulatory, and technical frameworks and convergence on design considerations through a structured, all-stakeholder approach.
The project will focus on hyperloop design definitions at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2, which involves developing and confirming the basic principles of hyperloop systems such as propulsion and vacuum technology. The process is followed by validation of key subsystems at TRL4, the level of testing and feasibility demonstration in laboratory environments. A safety framework, operational guidelines, and business cases will be developed to align hyperloop with Europe’s multi-modal transport goals under the TEN-T. Ultimately, the project will produce a unified roadmap to guide the deployment of hyperloop systems across Europe.
“We are excited to coordinate the project with such a wide array of organisations from the rail sector, and other industries in this first-ever industry-wide consortium. By harmonising our efforts, we are building a unified framework for the future implementation of hyperloop technology. Our focus is on ensuring interoperability within the broader European transport network,” said Sascha Lamme, Program Director of the Hyperloop Development Programme.
The project will use an iterative design process, allowing for continuous refinement as ideas and designs evolve. Social science disciplines will also be incorporated to assess societal acceptance, economic impacts, and environmental sustainability. Hyper4Rail is structured into six work packages, focusing on design, validation, business modelling, and the development of a detailed roadmap for implementation.
Once the Hyper4Rail project is completed, attention will shift toward large-scale demonstrators, further collaboration within the industry, and pilot implementations. The roadmap developed during the project will help guide future research and development investments, as well as inform policy adjustments. The goal is for hyperloop technology to be industrialised and deployed at scale by the 2030s.
*The consortium includes hyperloop developers, rail operators, infrastructure managers, engineering companies, and research institutions, that join their expertise from multiple sectors in a research collaboration under Flagship Area 7, focused on innovation on new approaches for guided transport modes.
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