The Roads & Transport Authority has unveiled a design mockup of a proposed Hyperloop transport pod as part of UAE Innovation Month.
The RTA also said that “considerable progress” has been made in technical, engineering and economic feasibility studies for the potential hyperloop system, which is being developed in collaboration with Virgin Hyperloop One.
The RTA is showcasing a number of planned transport models as part of the annual innovation celebration.
In a statement, HE Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), said: “The Hyperloop is part of RTA’s initiatives for Dubai Future Accelerators. RTA and Virgin Hyperloop One Company have made considerable progress in the technical, engineering and economic feasibility study of the Project. Progress made also included identifying the routes for operating the Hyperloop along with its initial design model, which will be exhibited for the first time in the world.”
Al Tayer also said that the proposed Hyperloop design “boasts of deluxe interiors, cutting-edge broadcasting & display of information and entertainment materials as well as leather seats”.
The proposed Hyperloop technology, which is still undergoing engineering and feasibility testing in several countries, will convey passengers between Dubai and Abu Dhabi at speeds of up to 1,200KPH, reducing the journey time to just 12 minutes, Al Tayer said, and the system will be able to carry up to 10,000 passengers per hour in both directions.
Abu Dhabi is conducting its own feasibility studies into hyperloop technologies, with rival company Hyperloop Transportation Technologies.
Rob Lloyd, CEO of Virgin Hyperloop One added: “The UAE and RTA were early supporters of our hyperloop technology, so it is particularly exciting to be unveiling the Dubai Hyperloop pod with the RTA here today. Our focus in 2018 would be continuing the close collaboration with RTA to progress to the next phase of the project. Our aim would be to explore the viability of a wider UAE Hyperloop network.”
The RTA is also exhibiting other planned transport initiatives such as Autonomous Pods, High-Frequency Express Buses, and the Urban Mobility Innovation Index (UMii).
“The launch of these initiatives is in implementation of the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to transform Dubai into the smartest city in the world. It is also part of RTA’s efforts to provide autonomous transport, which requires carrying out technological tests on these means under Dubai’s climatic conditions. It reflects RTA’s strategy to transform 25% of total journeys in Dubai into driverless transport using different means by 2030. The strategy is focused on integrating public transit means with people’s happiness through the provision of smooth, express and innovative mobility means that support the efforts of ranking the UAE among the top 20 countries in the UMii by 2021,” said Al Tayer.
The proposed autonomous transport pods will undergo trials in Dubai. The system will carry up to ten passengers per pod over short-to-medium distances, with pods travelling in dedicated lanes.
The RTA will also exhibit the UMii, which has been designed with the aim of maximising potential benefits, enhancing collaboration with cities, benchmarking mobility innovation, providing a database of cities with advanced innovative mobility, and the ranking & benchmarking various mobility innovation pillars measured by the Umii. These innovations are aimed at achieving self-improvement through sharing expertise and using joint indicators towards implementing RTA’s Self-Driving Transport Strategy, the RTA said.
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Promising Project
Rob Lloyd, CEO of Virgin Hyperloop One added: “The UAE and RTA were early supporters of our hyperloop technology, so it is particularly exciting to be unveiling the Dubai Hyperloop pod with the RTA here today. Our focus in 2018 would be continuing the close collaboration with RTA to progress to the next phase of the project. Our aim would be to explore the viability of a wider UAE Hyperloop network.”
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