5 ms·
The track should be cheaper because hyperloop has (almost) no impact on existing infrastructures. Expropriation costs for train are huge.
by reacweb 9y ago
The track should be cheaper because hyperloop has (almost) no impact on existing infrastructures. Expropriation costs for train are huge.
- Pxtl 9y agoHow could the Hyperloop not require the same expropriations? A giant tube isn't any smaller than a train track. Is it the fact that it's elevated? Rail can be elevated. Yes, rail is heavy, but so are giant evacuated steel tubes.
- zip1234 9y agoRun it down the center of the freeway? Having stations for trains in the middle of freeways isn't great for pedestrians, but might be fine for long distance transport such as hyperloop.
- Pxtl 9y agoHSR is supposed to be log distance transport. It's I meant to solve the exact same problems as Hyperloop, but by powerful engines and streamlined railcars instead of evacuated tubes. Again, why not put HSR tracks in the same place you'd put a Hyperloop track? Put the station in the same place. The tubes aren't smaller or lighter.
- pstuart 9y agoI think he's planning on making lots of tunnels. https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-test-tunnel/ https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-test-tunnel/
- danmaz74 9y agoTunnels are very, very expensive.
- zimpenfish 9y agoe.g. https://pedestrianobservations.com/2016/12/15/second-avenue-subway-phase-2-to-cost-6-billion/ https://pedestrianobservations.com/2016/12/15/second-avenue-... > The total length of the project, from 96th Street and 2nd Avenue to 125th Street and Lexington, is about 2.7 km. At $2.2 billion per km, this sets a new world record for subway construction costs, breaking that of the first phase of the same line, which only cost $1.7 billion per km.
- Pxtl 9y agoI read one article that blamed the high cost of modern subways primarily on the hyper-elaborate modern subway stations and the actual tunnels are a small component of the cost.
- zimpenfish 9y agoI think you're right - tunnels seem to be about $200-400M per km when considered purely on their own.
- pstuart 9y agoMusk seems to think he can do it faster/cheaper. His track record makes it worth considering. The article I linked to smacks his arrogance down over costs that he's overlooking, but even that may be addressable. Let's see what he delivers in the next 5 years.