HSR in AB? How about this instead?

Bigtime · #1 Posted **Aug 13, 2013, 1:24 PM**

Billionaire and awesome future thinking guy Elon Musk (Paypal, Tesla Motors, SpaceX) is proposing the "Hyperloop" system instead of the traditional high speed rail for the Los Angeles-San Francisco corridor.

http://www.spacex.com/hyperloop

Do you think something like this could be in Alberta's future between YYC and YEG?

You Need A Thneed · #2 Posted **Aug 13, 2013, 2:50 PM**

HSR track is expensive, as this would be. Figure out how much it costs, then build it! (provided that it is cost effective)

Calgarian · #3 Posted **Aug 13, 2013, 2:52 PM**

I was wondering if this would be posted here. Interesting idea, needs a lot of R&D before anyone is going to spend money on it. Would be cool to get to Edmonton in about 20 minutes.

Bigtime · #4 Posted **Aug 13, 2013, 3:10 PM**

In the document released yesterday Musk is estimating a passenger only version to cost about $6B USD. So I guess a ballpark for YYC-YEG would probably be around $3.5B USD or so.

Where does that compare to estimates of the HSR options?

The huge thing about this (if it works as advertised) is just how little energy is used per trip versus all other transport methods. It would be a big deal for a province like AB to invest in technology like this.

Innersoul1 · #5 Posted **Aug 13, 2013, 3:21 PM**

I watched a lot of video on this last night. The comparison they gave was the Calfornia HSR from LA to SF tagged at 70 Billion USD. Musk stated that it would cost him about a tenth of that to build his hyperloop. So Biggie is right with his numbers.

It's a radical concept I don't know how it would work for claustrophobics and you would certainly have to eliminate the feel of a 20 minute roller coaster ride.

Bigtime · #6 Posted **Aug 13, 2013, 3:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Innersoul1

I watched a lot of video on this last night. The comparison they gave was the Calfornia HSR from LA to SF tagged at 70 Billion USD. Musk stated that it would cost him about a tenth of that to build his hyperloop. So Biggie is right with his numbers.

It's a radical concept I don't know how it would work for claustrophobics and you would certainly have to eliminate the feel of a 20 minute roller coaster ride.

I think YYC-YEG would be even more of a straight line shot than the LAX-SFO corridor, so less time accelerating and more time in the cruise portion. Probably not too bad on the body, I think they were only planning on about 0.5G's for accelerating and decelerating.

Regardless of if this thing happens in Cali or not, guys like Musk are going to be credited in the future with bringing us new technologies like this that could revolutionize our lives.

KilgoreTrout · #7 Posted **Aug 13, 2013, 3:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Innersoul1

I watched a lot of video on this last night. The comparison they gave was the Calfornia HSR from LA to SF tagged at 70 Billion USD. Musk stated that it would cost him about a tenth of that to build his hyperloop. So Biggie is right with his numbers.

It's a radical concept I don't know how it would work for claustrophobics and you would certainly have to eliminate the feel of a 20 minute roller coaster ride.

This is insanely cool. Do you know the name of the video? Curious to learn more about this.

RyLucky · #8 Posted **Aug 13, 2013, 10:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigtime

In the document released yesterday Musk is estimating a passenger only version to cost about $6B USD. So I guess a ballpark for YYC-YEG would probably be around $3.5B USD or so.

Where does that compare to estimates of the HSR options?

The huge thing about this (if it works as advertised) is just how little energy is used per trip versus all other transport methods. It would be a big deal for a province like AB to invest in technology like this.

If it were guaranteed to be that price, and as good as they say, then ya. Do it. Cool idea, but still really far from existing.

suburbia · #9 Posted **Aug 13, 2013, 10:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigtime

In the document released yesterday Musk is estimating a passenger only version to cost about $6B USD. So I guess a ballpark for YYC-YEG would probably be around $3.5B USD or so.

The construction mafia isn't nearly as bad in California, so if their longer track is $6B, I'd say our shorter one would be 50% more than that. You know I'm right.

Bigtime · #10 Posted **Aug 13, 2013, 10:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by suburbia

The construction mafia isn't nearly as bad in California, so if their longer track is $6B, I'd say our shorter one would be 50% more than that. You know I'm right.

Haha, well played!

Allan83 · #11 Posted **Aug 14, 2013, 7:25 AM**

An interesting side note is that Musk’s mother is from Regina, and he spent some summers as kid in Regina and on a relative’s farm near Swift Current. He also went to Queen’s for a couple of years. I’m not sure if this would make him more interested in getting involved in a project here, but it’s an interesting connection to the area. I believe this technology exists only on paper at this point, however, so I expect that we’re a long way away from any large scale project being built.

You Need A Thneed · #12 Posted **Aug 13, 2013, 3:22 PM**

I think that would be a little higher than low level HSR estimates. Still, if HSR was seriously being considered, spending a little bit more so that people could get from Calgary to Edmonton in 20 minutes would be well worth it.

You'd have much higher ridership with a 20 minute trip vs a 90 minute trip.

Spring2008 · #13 Posted **Aug 13, 2013, 3:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by You Need A Thneed

I think that would be a little higher than low level HSR estimates. Still, if HSR was seriously being considered, spending a little bit more so that people could get from Calgary to Edmonton in 20 minutes would be well worth it.

You'd have much higher ridership with a 20 minute trip vs a 90 minute trip.

20min?? 900km/hr? Geez! If it has a proven safety record, build a line to the west coast too while we're at it!

You Need A Thneed · #14 Posted **Aug 13, 2013, 3:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spring2008

20min?? 900km/hr? Geez! If it has a proven safety record, build a line to the west coast too while we're at it!

According to Elon musk's paper, this technology doesn't make sense for further routes, as supersonic planes probably make more sense at that point.

Also, the route needs to be straight and flat. Getting a line to Vancouver would have huge costs I would imagine.

If this technology works, Calgary to Edmonton would be a great candidate for where it could work well.

Calgarian · #15 Posted **Aug 13, 2013, 4:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spring2008

20min?? 900km/hr? Geez! If it has a proven safety record, build a line to the west coast too while we're at it!

I think they said it would go over 1100km/h. I wonder if with speeds like that whether having a stop in Red Deer would make sense as you would not go very far at cruising speed...

What was the cost in the HSR reports the province had done, something like $15 billion?

Chadillaccc · #16 Posted **Aug 13, 2013, 4:20 PM**

Sounds like that guy needs to get to work desigining a hyperloop for our bitumen!

Mazrim · #17 Posted **Aug 13, 2013, 4:51 PM**

His cost estimates seem rather low, but otherwise it's a cool idea that I hope they can flesh out!

MasterG · #18 Posted **Aug 13, 2013, 4:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mazrim

His cost estimates seem rather low, but otherwise it's a cool idea that I hope they can flesh out!

Its definitely interesting. But a 500km elevated or tunneled structure for only 6 -10 billion? I believe it when I see it.

YYCguys · #19 Posted **Aug 13, 2013, 5:47 PM**

The HSR would likely need to have stops at YYC, Airdrie, Red Deer, YEG, and finally in Edmonton City Centre, but I doubt the Hyperloop could stop that many times and achieve the speeds and timing it is designed for. If we were satisfied with expanding our own regional and municipal transit systems to hook up with the Hyperloop, I could see it working. As for building a Hyperloop line along the proposed HSR route within the city of Calgary, wouldn't it get a bit tricky to be flat/straight south of Telus Spark into downtown?

GlassCity · #20 Posted **Aug 13, 2013, 6:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by YYCguys

The HSR would likely need to have stops at YYC, Airdrie, Red Deer, YEG, and finally in Edmonton City Centre, but I doubt the Hyperloop could stop that many times and achieve the speeds and timing it is designed for. If we were satisfied with expanding our own regional and municipal transit systems to hook up with the Hyperloop, I could see it working. As for building a Hyperloop line along the proposed HSR route within the city of Calgary, wouldn't it get a bit tricky to be flat/straight south of Telus Spark into downtown?

I don't really get the point of suburban or airport stations. Calgary-Red Deer-Edmonton city centres only. It would get people to where they want to go, and as quickly as possible.