Part aircraft part train this electric Hyperloop could travel at over Mach 1
New forms of transport are emerging all the time, and many have bold claims, so we'll see how this one plays out.
Key takeaways
- Learn more about the FluxJet Most recently, TransPod announced the next phase of an $18B US infrastructure project to build the network system that will connect Calgary and Edmonton in Alberta, Canada.
- According to the startup, this project will create up to 140,000 jobs and add $19.2B to the region’s GDP throughout construction.
- In addition, once the TransPod Line is in operation, it will cost passengers approximately 44% less than a plane ticket to travel the corridor and help reduce CO2 emissions by 636,000 tonnes per year.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2022) 'Part aircraft part train this electric Hyperloop could travel at over Mach 1', 311 Institute, 25 November. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/part-aircraft-part-train-this-electric-hyperloop-could-travel-at-over-mach-1/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
As various hyperloop companies around the world try to develop and commercialise their inventions, which will ultimately see people travelling in trains in vacuum tubes that exceed the speed of sound, TransPod, a Canadian start up has announced it’s “building the world’s leading ultra-high-speed ground transportation system, the TransPod Line” has just unveiled FluxJet that ithopes will transform the way passengers and cargo are moved.
Based on “ground breaking innovations in propulsion and fossil-fuel-free clean energy systems,” the fully electric vehicle is a hybrid between an aircraft and a train. It features technological leaps in contactless power transmission and a new field of physics called Veillance Flux, enabling it to travel in a protected guideway at over 1000 km/h, faster than a jet and three times as fast as a conventional high speed train.
The Future of Transport, by keynote speaker Matthew Griffin
“This milestone is a major leap forward,” says Ryan Janzen, co-founder and CTO at TransPod. “The FluxJet is at a nexus of scientific research, industrial development, and massive infrastructure to address passengers’ needs and reduce our dependence on fossil fuel heavy jets and highways.”
Preliminary construction work on the FluxJet, including the environmental impact assessment, has already begun, and eventually it will operate exclusively on the TransPod Line, a network system with stations in key locations and major cities and featuring high-frequency departures designed to enable fast, affordable, and safe travel.
Learn more about the FluxJet
Most recently, TransPod announced the next phase of an $18B US infrastructure project to build the network system that will connect Calgary and Edmonton in Alberta, Canada.
According to the startup, this project will create up to 140,000 jobs and add $19.2B to the region’s GDP throughout construction. In addition, once the TransPod Line is in operation, it will cost passengers approximately 44% less than a plane ticket to travel the corridor and help reduce CO2 emissions by 636,000 tonnes per year.
“The FluxJet is a first for Canadian innovation and is the next great infrastructure project to be brought worldwide,” continues Janzen. “The TransPod Line is being developed in collaboration with our partners in Europe, USA, and beyond, including universities, research centers, the aerospace industry, architecture, railway, and construction partners.”
At TransPod’s unveiling event in Toronto, a scaled-down prototype was featured in a live demonstration showing its flight capabilities. The almost 1-tonne vehicle engaged in take-off, travel, and landing procedures within its guideway.
What this means for your organisation
Short-haul flights face new rivals.
A ground vehicle faster than a jet could compete on routes between major cities. Clean electric power adds appeal as emissions rules tighten. Airlines should model which routes are most exposed.
Bold physics claims need proof.
The system relies on new technology that has yet to run at scale. Many high-speed transport ventures have stalled. Investors should demand testing milestones before committing.
Infrastructure is the hard part.
Dedicated guideways and stations need land, permits and huge capital. Approvals often take longer than engineering. Governments and investors should plan long timelines and stage funding.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
- Which of our travel or freight routes could ultra-fast ground transport serve?
- What milestones would prove this technology works?
- How long would approvals take for new transport corridors?
The trends and technologies behind this story
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s article and 311 data. First published on Fanatical Futurist.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
New forms of transport are emerging all the time, and many have bold claims, so we'll see how this one plays out.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
Read full bio
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder, President and Futurist of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity programme, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 25 November 2022. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2022). Part aircraft part train this electric Hyperloop could travel at over Mach 1. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/part-aircraft-part-train-this-electric-hyperloop-could-travel-at-over-mach-1/
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