VIDEO: Hyperloop Dubai sends first human passengers on historic test ride

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Virgin Hyperloop made history on Monday as the first passengers successfully travelled in a Hyperloop pod.

Popularly known as Hyperloop Dubai or the Virgin Hyperloop One, this multi-billion dollar project will reduce travel time for Dubai-Abu Dhabi commuters from an hour or so to 12 minutes.

The significant investment made by Dubai-based DP World, the leading global provider of smart logistics solutions, in the research and development of hyperloop technology, has played an instrumental role in today’s milestone.

Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman of Virgin Hyperloop and Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, watched the passenger testing first-hand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

"I had the true pleasure of seeing history being made before my very eyes -- to witness the first new mode of mass transportation in over 100 years come to life," said Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman of Virgin Hyperloop and Group Chairman and CEO of DP World. 

"I have always had tremendous faith in the team at Virgin Hyperloop to transform this technology into a safe system, and today we have done that. We are one step closer to ushering in a new era of ultra-fast, sustainable movement of people and goods."

"DP World and Dubai are at the forefront of technological innovation in the transport and logistics industry. The world has been changing quickly and we wanted to be involved in the potential this mode of mass transportation presents, to connect markets and economies, keep trade flowing and help build the global economy’s next phase to accelerate growth," he added.

This historic testing milestone, combined with the advancements at the Hyperloop Certification Centre, will pave the way for the certification of hyperloop systems around the world -- a key step towards commercial projects, including those in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

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Josh Giegel, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, and Sara Luchian, Director of Passenger Experience, of Virgin Hyperloop, were the first people in the world to ride on this new form of transportation. The test took place at Virgin Hyperloop’s 500-metre DevLoop test site in Las Vegas, where the company has previously run over 400 unoccupied tests.

The occupants made their maiden voyage on the newly-unveiled XP-2 vehicle.

"When we started in a garage over six years ago, the goal was simple – to transform the way people move," said Josh Giegel. "Today, we took one giant leap toward that ultimate dream, not only for me, but for all of us who are looking towards a moonshot right here on Earth."

The occupants made their maiden voyage on the newly-unveiled XP-2 vehicle, designed by Bjarke Ingels Group, which was custom-built with occupant safety and comfort in mind. While the production vehicle will be larger and seat up to 28 passengers, this 2-seater XP-2 vehicle was built to demonstrate that passengers can in fact safely travel in a hyperloop vehicle.

The testing campaign, from the beginning stages all the way through to today’s successful demonstration, was overseen by the industry-recognised Independent Safety Assessor, ISA, Certifer. Having undergone a rigorous and exhaustive safety process, the XP-2 vehicle demonstrates many of the safety-critical systems that will be found on a commercial hyperloop system and is equipped with a state-of-the-art control system that can detect off-nominal states and rapidly trigger appropriate emergency responses.

The XP-2 vehicle is an incredible leap in innovation and technological brilliance.

"I can’t tell you how often I get asked ‘is hyperloop safe?’," said Jay Walder, CEO of Virgin Hyperloop. "With today’s passenger testing, we have successfully answered this question, demonstrating that not only can Virgin Hyperloop safely put a person in a pod in a vacuum environment, but that the company has a thoughtful approach to safety which has been validated by an independent third party."

Virgin Hyperloop continues to be active in the Gulf region. Saudi Arabia is conducting a first-of-its-kind national hyperloop study to evaluate how a hyperloop carrying both passenger and cargo could spark economic benefits, create jobs and develop high-tech skills. The study, commissioned by Saudi Minister of Transport Saleh Bin Nasser Al Jasser, will lay the groundwork for a network of hyperloop routes to be considered ‎across Saudi Arabia.

"Today’s successful passenger testing brings us one step closer to commercial hyperloop projects in the Gulf region," said Harj Dhaliwal, Managing Director of Middle East and India for Virgin Hyperloop. "Fundamentally, hyperloop is about so much more than the technology — it’s about what it enables. The potential is enormous for the GCC to lead the world in hyperloop manufacturing, investment, and job creation."

Virgin Hyperloop also announced a partnership with Abu Dhabi’s Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence to support the development of hyperloop technology and sustainable transportation through advanced AI research.