The first ever hyperloop test facility has been unveiled in Delft in the Netherlands. Hardt has been working with Bam on the project to create a 30m-long test facility where the technology for this next generation transport system can be tested.
A hyperloop system would enable people and goods to travel around Europe incredibly quickly. The idea is that the transport system operates through tubes with very low air resistance. This allows the vehicles within to travel more quickly and more efficiently.
In theory, a hyperloop could allow people and goods to travel at speeds of up to 1,000km per hour. And unlike a conventional railway or underground network, the hyperloop would travel directly to its destination, with no stops along the way.
CEO of Hardt Tim Houter commented: “We are creating a world where distance no longer matters. One where you will have the freedom to live and work wherever you want to.”
The company has stated that it aims to build a hyperloop route between two cities by 2021, with this test facility the first stage of that development. Initially Hardt and Bam will be testing the track at low speeds, before moving on to high-speed tests in the future, and eventually extending the route.
Those working on infrastructure projects in the UK may be watching the developments closely, as it could have a significant impact on how we travel should the hyperloop in the Netherlands be established in the coming years.
Of course, this is far from the only new use of technology in infrastructure projects. Drones are increasingly being used to carry out bridge inspections around the UK, helping to reduce the cost of carrying out these assessments and enabling inspectors to check more structures in the same amount of time.
If you are looking for assistance with bearing installation for a project you’re working on, contact us today.