JumpStartFund’s Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT), states it has signed an agreement with the government of Slovakia to “explore building a local Hyperloop” that will potentially connect Budapest, Vienna and Bratislava. A Bratislava-to-Vienna route is estimated to take 8 minutes at Hyperloop’s full speed. For a Bratislava-to-Budapest trip just 10 minutes. According to HTT, a route between Bratislava and Košice—a distance of 400 kilometers (250 miles)—could also be considered and would connect the eastern and western sides of Slovakia with a short trip of only 25 minutes. A trip by auto now takes 4.5 hours.
Vazil Hudak, Minister of Economy of the Slovak Republic, commented on the agreement;
“Hyperloop in Europe would cut distances substantially and network cities in unprecedented ways. A transportation system of this kind would redefine the concept of commuting and boost cross-border cooperation in Europe,” said Hudak. “The expansion of Hyperloop will lead to an increased demand for the creation of new innovation hubs, in Slovakia and all over Europe.”
Dirk Ahlborn, CEO of HTT, said the European Hyperloop would incentivize collaboration and innovation across Europe.
“With our project in Quay Valley, this agreement with Slovakia, and future developments with other regions of the world, HTT truly has become a global movement,” said Ahlborn.
Bibop Gresta, COO of HTT, drew a historical parallel to the fact that the first underground railway was built in Budapest in 1896. In 1914, the first electric train line from Budapest to Bratislava was launched.
“Slovakia continues to confirm its position as one of the most forward thinking countries by embracing innovations like the Hyperloop transportation system.”
HTT was created in 2013 using JumpStartFund’s crowdfunding / crowdsourcing platform. HTT announced this past January it was working on its first full scale system in conjunction with the Quay Valley project.
No additional details surrounding the timing and funding of the Slovakian project were provided.
The Hyperloop is described as using a combination of alternative energy and conservation techniques such as photovoltaics, wind, kinetic, regenerative braking, and geothermal power to ensure sustainability and low cost. Top speeds are estimated at over 700 mph.
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