15 replies to this topic

[johnfwd]

By now most of us are familiar with Elon Musk’s hyperloop mass transit concept (see NBC news article below).  It sounds exciting and maybe feasible, technologically and economically.  Then, there’s the political and social inertia about new mass transit innovation that seems to be gripping our country.  Here in Fort Worth, we’re still arguing about whether to have street cars and light rail, while we continue to build 20th century highways.

 

http://www.nbcnews.c...tube-6C10902051

[mmiller2002]

http://www.usatoday....pace-x/2646969/

[johnfwd]

I'm no expert to propound upon this technological concept.   But when I hear people constantly say "but...but...but...but," I remember the same risk-averse slugs saying no, definitely not possible, to human space travel or to a landing of humans on the moon.  And I just bet that similar slugs pooh-poohed the concepts of trains, automobiles, airplanes, telephones, phonographs, moving pictures, television, and so on.  If Americans are going to always worry that this idea or that idea is not feasible, or it's too expensive, or who will pay for it, or it's not marketable, or it's hazardous to your health, or it could be built maybe someday in the far distant future but not today, then nothing would ever get developed, built, and marketed.

[Electricron]

I'm no expert to propound upon this technological concept.   But when I hear people constantly say "but...but...but...but," I remember the same risk-averse slugs saying no, definitely not possible, to human space travel or to a landing of humans on the moon.  And I just bet that similar slugs pooh-poohed the concepts of trains, automobiles, airplanes, telephones, phonographs, moving pictures, television, and so on.  If Americans are going to always worry that this idea or that idea is not feasible, or it's too expensive, or who will pay for it, or it's not marketable, or it's hazardous to your health, or it could be built maybe someday in the far distant future but not today, then nothing would ever get developed, built, and marketed.

I agree that progress and the future is always with us. Never-the-less, I'm more willing to accept new concepts or new ideas when the persons recommending them is willing to undertake them. In this case, Elon Musk is NOT proposing to build or operate this very high speed train, which means they don't even think it is financially achievable. So I'm more inclined to dismiss it as futuristic hogwash.

[Fort Worthology]

Here's a post where the Hyperloop is really strongly criticized for what seem like pretty glaring faults in the thermal expansion and stress properties of its track:  http://www.leancrew....3/08/hyperloop/

[johnfwd]

An update on the hyperloop concept in this article by Jon Chang on the ABC news website.  I still think we Americans should stop being so risk averse (would we ever have invented the automobile with that attitude?). 

 

http://abcnews.go.co...ory?id=20738946

[AndyN]

Yeah, ummm.... Most people consider German inventor Carl Benz as having invented the first modern automobile in 1886 in Mannheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany.

[johnfwd]

Some of us here probably noticed this very recent news of a planned construction of a prototype hyperloop (article below).  Other than providing an update on this topic, I wanted to know if any of you discussants of travel cost, convenience, and eminent domain issues facing high-speed rail (another thread) believe a hyperloop would face similar obstacles to becoming a reality? 

 

http://techcrunch.co...016/#KycNcH:TPK

[Electricron]

Some of us here probably noticed this very recent news of a planned construction of a prototype hyperloop (article below).  Other than providing an update on this topic, I wanted to know if any of you discussants of travel cost, convenience, and eminent domain issues facing high-speed rail (another thread) believe a hyperloop would face similar obstacles to becoming a reality? 

 

http://techcrunch.co...016/#KycNcH:TPK

Yes, Nimbys exist everywhere at all times. 

[elpingüino]

The Dallas Business Journal interviews an executive for Virgin Hyperloop One about the prospects of the Metroplex getting the first hyperloop project. Article plus an extensive slideshow: Hyperloop between Dallas, Fort Worth ‘in the lead’ to be nation’s first  

 

 

“The fact that Dallas-Fort Worth has started that [impact study] process where no one else has yet basically means they’re in the lead,” Roth said.

[Doohickie]

The Dallas Business Journal interviews an executive for Virgin Hyperloop One about the prospects of the Metroplex getting the first hyperloop project. Article plus an extensive slideshow: Hyperloop between Dallas, Fort Worth ‘in the lead’ to be nation’s first

 
 

Subscribe to get the full story.

[johnfwd]

Yeah, but the first sentence is probably all you need to know.  I am an advocate for this kind of transportation system if it is feasible.  As I see it, no one in DFW or elsewhere is going to take the hyperloop seriously until they see a working model.  I believe one of the companies is developing a prototype out west somewhere.

[johnfwd]

This article on the nbcnews.com website is probably the most detailed in describing what this new technology would be like.

 

https://www.nbcnews....soon-ncna855041

[johnfwd]

This article by Paul K. Harral in FWBP really surprised me.  To think that Texas regional transportation planners are actually and seriously considering this new experimental technology!  I like the hyperloop concept and hope it becomes a practical reality.

 

http://www.fortworth...8151f6771b.html

[johnfwd]

Appears we may soon no longer be able to ignore this novel form of transportation, and in our part of the country!  Stay tuned. 

 

 [Article below in publication called Culture Map Fort Worth]

 

http://fortworth.cul...38Dj9uEgOd9HLxU

[johnfwd]

For a summertime pause from discussion of conventional transportation schemes:  This caught my eye in FWBP, which sometime ago reported that Texas transportation planners were interested in Hyperloop technology.  I hope this"roadshow" doesn't turn out to be "all show and no tell."

 

http://www.fortworth...c319542fcd.html