A futuristic high-speed travel project could link London and Paris in 20 minutes

"Engineers are looking into hyperloop technology, which isn't something from Star Trek, but instead could be a very real mode of transport that would make land travel as fast as flying. The European Hyperloop Center Veendam in the Netherlands, where the research is taking place, said one day travellers could reach Paris from London in just 20 minutes."

"If it were to become a reality, passengers would be shuttled through hyperloop vacuums, travelling 600 miles per hour. Pods are not attached to rails, but are suspended in midair by magnets attached to the roof of the vehicles. It sounds a little scary, but advocates for the futuristic mode of travel say it could alter how we perceive time and distance forever, affecting everything from holiday planning, to house prices."

"Hyperloop travel was once just a pipe dream, but it gained more recognition in 2013 after Elon Musk wrote a white paper on the topic. The world's first hyperloop passenger test was conducted in Nevada in 2023, but then the project folded amid skyrocketing costs."

Hyperloop technology represents a revolutionary approach to land transportation that could match or exceed flight speeds. Magnetic pods suspended in vacuum tubes would travel at 600 miles per hour, potentially reducing London to Paris travel time to just 20 minutes. The European Hyperloop Center Veendam in the Netherlands leads current research efforts funded by the European Union. While Elon Musk popularized the concept in 2013 and a passenger test occurred in Nevada in 2023, the technology still faces significant challenges including funding constraints and passenger capacity limitations. Despite obstacles, engineers remain optimistic about eventual implementation.

Read at Time Out London