Are we one step closer to 'jet-speed' tube travel in the province?

The company that is hoping to make the trip from Calgary to Edmonton in 45 minutes via a hyperloop, a reality, has announced the next steps in its endeavours.

Transpod, announced in their 2024 newsletter that they have re-affirmed key partnerships in the province, including the City of Edmonton, as well as the Building Trades of Alberta (BTA), and Clean Communities Corporation (CCC) to continue working on the ambitious Hyperloop project.

"With the City of Edmonton, we have reaffirmed our commitment to work together on the TransPod test track between Edmonton and the Edmonton Airport," Transpod stated. "The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) sets the groundwork for a partnership between TransPod, the City, and the Edmonton International Airport."

Focus areas include finalizing the system’s route in the Edmonton area, developing the Edmonton International Airport as a TransPod cargo hub, as well determining station locations, and ensuring support for the innovative transportation system.

"With BTA, we have agreed to collaborate on infrastructure testing and workforce development, to ensure that the Alberta workforce is prepared for our massive aerospace-type construction project."

Transpod also underlined that their cooperation with the CCC, an Indigenous-led eco-tech enterprise based in Calgary, 'marks a significant step toward a sustainable future. Combining TransPod’s high-speed, energy-efficient transportation technology with CCC’s expertise in environmental remediation, the collaboration aims to revolutionize transportation.'

The company's vision of an ultra-high-speed tube transportation system in the province, which was dubbed as a 'system to disrupt and redefine commercial transportation', promising speeds of a jet aircraft, has been in the works for several years.

In 2020, TransPod announced it had signed an MOU with the Government of Alberta to support the ongoing research and development of safe, high-speed transportation in Alberta, based on the TransPod line. In June 2021, Transpod announced the completion of the Alberta TransPod feasibility study.

"The results confirm that the multi-billion-dollar infrastructure project will create up to 140,000 jobs, grow the region’s GDP by 6.25 per cent over nine years, and reduce Alberta’s carbon emissions by 636,000 tonnes per year — all at no cost to the taxpayer," Transpod stated in an earlier news release.

Two years ago, the company announced a massive investment announcement.

"Broughton Capital Group (“BCG”), in cooperation with China-East Resources Import & Export Co. (“CERIECO”), have agreed in principle to provide a combined US $550M finance and Master EPC arrangement respectively to accelerate the development of a TransPod Line between Edmonton and Calgary and drive economic growth in the region."

Also in 2022, the company released a tentative timeline of short-term and longer-term goals of the project. Short-term goals up until 2024 included research and development; construction permits; environmental assessments; as well as land acquisition. Goals for the years between 2023 and 2027 included a test track construction, high-speed tests, and certification. The company previously said that by 2027 they hope to have construction underway of a full inter-city line between Edmonton and Calgary

According to Transpod, if the project were to be completed, the Alberta TransPod line would reduce the number of cars travelling between Calgary and Edmonton by 32 per cent; between Calgary and Calgary Airport by 21 per cent; and between Edmonton and Edmonton Airport by 18 per cent.

"With an expected ridership of 6.4 million travellers in 2030, growing to 19.2 million travellers by 2060, the total savings in travel time will amount to approximately 18 million hours of commuting per year, totalling $1.9 billion in economic benefits," Transpod added.

Transpod also estimates that riding the hyperloop would cost an estimated $90 compared to more than three hours spent driving or a plane ticket costing about $162.

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