Abu Dhabi to study feasibility of Al Ain Hyperloop
Transport department signs agreement with Hyperloop Transportation Technologies for research into high-speed transportation initiative
Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipal Affairs and Transport (DMAT) has announced an agreement with Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HyperloopTT) to undertake a feasibility study to connect Abu Dhabi and Al Ain using the Hyperloop system.
The study agreement details a multi-phase rollout that includes route analysis and feasibility studies, as well as a cost estimate and development schedule, which will be determined over the next few months, said the department in a statement. Once these analyses are successfully completed, both DMAT and HyperloopTT will discuss further steps. This project is the only initiative of its kind that has the support of the government of Abu Dhabi.
“Through this agreement with HyperloopTT, we aim to study the feasibility of developing the first Hyperloop system. We hope to take advantage of this technology, which is one of the latest and most advanced transportation technologies, capable of reaching a top speed of 1,200kph, to connect the cities of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, resulting in a travel time of about eight to 12 minutes,” said Khalid Mohamed Hashim, acting executive director of the Land Transport Sector at DMAT.
“The reinforcement of connectivity between Abu Dhabi and Al Ain is one of the strategic objectives of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, aiming to stimulate economic, social and touristic development between Al Ain and its suburbs and the capital city. In addition to direct benefits, higher connectivity between the two largest cities in the emirate offers numerous indirect benefits, such as less reliance on private vehicles and traditional public transport modes, which means creating sustainable transport that can lessen the negative impact of transport related emissions in the emirate.”
The study will be useful for identifying locations for stations and tracks, the DMAT statement said and added that the full environmental, economic and social benefits of this project will be realised once implemented.
The cost of this next-generation transportation technology, characterised by a high degree of safety and comfort, is estimated to be significantly less than traditional high-speed railway and it will also need half the time to be implemented as compared to traditional high speed rail projects, besides consuming only a fraction of the energy, the DMAT said.
HyperloopTT has an agreement with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, which grants the company an exclusive license to use the Laboratory’s passive magnetic levitation technology in the Hyperloop, according to the DMAT statement. As one of the first companies in the world to develop the Hyperloop technology, HyperloopTT has secured its technology innovations and intellectual property with numerous patents — including trademarks granted in more than 33 countries, it added.
Bibop G. Gresta, chairman and co-founder of HyperloopTT, said: “We are pleased to cooperate with the Department of Municipal Affairs and Transport to conduct a study on high-speed travel between Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. By leveraging a global team of experts and professionals, we are working to achieve a technical breakthrough in the field of transportation in Abu Dhabi. Our team’s collaborative efforts from our offices in the UAE and around the world are focused on delivering humanised mobility through the development of the world’s fastest, safest and most energy-efficient transportation solution.
“We see in this agreement a significant opportunity that will allow us to bring to life our vision of providing valuable solutions with a positive impact on safe, rapid and effective transportation. It will result in providing a sustainable solution – reducing the carbon footprint while enriching the lives of people in various communities here in Abu Dhabi.”
He added that the technology is based on the Halbach Array — a pattern of magnets which produce their own electrical current and levitation for the Hyperloop capsules — the next generation of MagLev technology for safe and sustainable transport. HyperloopTT has the exclusive rights to develop this technology.
