This is what travelling in a Mach 1 Hyperloop might look like
Most trains and transport systems are stuck in the 1800's and 1900's still, Hyperloop is a transportation system built for the demands of the 21st Century.
Key takeaways
- Recently Virgin Galactic showed off what it might be like to be a space tourist on their newest space plane.
- The first passenger test of the system back in November managed to accelerate two Virgin Hyperloop execs to a speed of 107 mph in just 6.25 seconds.
- In the future, Virgin Hyperloop is hoping to transport thousands of passengers an hour inside large convoys of 28-passenger-capacity pods.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2021) 'This is what travelling in a Mach 1 Hyperloop might look like', 311 Institute, 16 February. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/this-is-what-travelling-in-a-mach-1-hyperloop-might-look-like/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
Recently Virgin Galactic showed off what it might be like to be a space tourist on their newest space plane. Now, hot on the heels of its first live passenger test, Virgin Hyperloop has released a video showing what the experience of being shot inside a pod down a vacuum tube at breakneck speeds could one day look and feel like.
It’s an ambitious vision of the future of transportation, and like the amazing concept video that the UAE put together a couple of years ago, it goes through each step in the travel process, from check-in to disembarking. The experience seems reminiscent of going to an airport to catch a plane. The interior of the shuttle, however, feels more inspired by rail travel, with wide open cabins and face-to-face seating.
The biggest difference, however, is that there are no windows, except for what appears to be a generous skylight above. That’s because the magnetically levitating pod is racing through a vacuum tube at speeds of up to 760 mph. To make it feel less claustrophobic, the design team is focusing on bringing the outside in.
“Bands of greenery and wood textures subvert the aesthetic of typical mass transit materials with something optimistic and fresh,” John Barratt, CEO and president of design company Teague, which designed the pod interiors, said in a statement.
A futuristic experience
“All lighting in the pod, including the unassuming information displays, are dynamic and adjust based on traveller activity and journey milestones,” Barratt said.
It’s a futuristic mode of transportation that won’t begin commercial operations until at least 2030, according to Virgin. But it has made some headway with the technology. The first passenger test of the system back in November managed to accelerate two Virgin Hyperloop execs to a speed of 107 mph in just 6.25 seconds.
“It felt not that much different than accelerating in a sports car,” Virgin Hyperloop co-founder and first passenger Josh Giegel told The New York Times at the time.
In the future, Virgin Hyperloop is hoping to transport thousands of passengers an hour inside large convoys of 28-passenger-capacity pods. The individual pods will be within milliseconds of each other during travel, according to the company. The company is now trying to figure out a way to drive down costs to make it more affordable than flying.
“It’s simple. If it’s not affordable, people won’t use it,” Jay Walder, CEO of Virgin Hyperloop, said in the statement.
“Daily high-speed transport is currently not feasible for most people, but we want to change that notion,” Walder said. “Imagine being able to commute between cities that are currently hours apart in minutes, and the endless possibilities that opens up.”
What this means for your organisation
Experience sells new technology.
People need to feel comfortable before they will ride in a vacuum tube. Design choices like greenery and light reduce anxiety. Leaders launching new services should invest in how they feel, not just how they work.
Familiar journeys ease adoption.
The process mirrors an airport while the cabin feels like a train. Borrowing familiar steps lowers the learning curve. Design new customer journeys around habits people already have.
Passenger tests mark a turning point.
Carrying people moves the hyperloop from cargo concept to transport service. Safety and certification now become central. Investors should track regulatory approvals closely.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
- How do our new services feel to first-time users?
- Which familiar habits can our new products borrow?
- What approvals would a passenger hyperloop need where we operate?
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?
Most trains and transport systems are stuck in the 1800's and 1900's still, Hyperloop is a transportation system built for the demands of the 21st Century.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, 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 and Futurist in Chief 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 program, 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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Sources and further reading
- Teague teague.com
- told The New York Times nytimes.com
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 16 February 2021. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2021). This is what travelling in a Mach 1 Hyperloop might look like. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/this-is-what-travelling-in-a-mach-1-hyperloop-might-look-like/
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