Hyperloop concept spurs “Innovation Train” on Deutsche Bahn

Hyperloop augmented reality windows for the Innovation Train

Hyerloop Transportation Technologies

An idea to move people and goods on land at the speed of sound may help passenger railway travel more efficient.

Jumpstartfund’s Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Inc. (HTT) has agreed to collaborate with Deutsche Bahn to create an “Innovation Train.” The Innovation Train will be a conventional train that will use new technologies being developed by HTT for the Hyperloop to increase efficiency and bring a modern digital presence to today’s train transportation; taking a step closer to a hyper railway.

HHT said the Innovation Train would be “a travel experience that is built by the passenger for the passenger.”

HTT’s focus on creating the Hyperloop system has led to the development of additional technologies such as augmented reality windows and a digital ecosystem through its community. HHT says these developments will supplement the train technology Deutsche Bahn is known for building around the world. The partnership is part of HTT’s goals of making transportation enjoyable and profitable again by implementing more forward-thinking technologies into traditional ones.

The project, which starts next week, will utilize Hyperloop Transportation Technologies crowdsourcing and community collaboration, while implementations will be financed by Deutsche Bahn. The project is broken down into phases including research, usage scenarios, design concepts, design finalization and implementation. The train will be ready for passengers to test the new technologies by the beginning of 2017.

“One of the biggest issues in public transportation is the need for public subsidies,” said Dirk Ahlborn, HTT chief executive officer. “New technologies and new ideas, can create a better passenger experience while solving these issues through new monetization strategies and business models, with the Hyperloop and all other forms of transportation.”

“We have combined our strong development capabilities for digital technology with Hyperloop Transportation Technologies in order to integrate new ideas and innovative prototypes into our local passenger train service,” said Christoph Kraller, managing director of the SOB. “The creation of a digital travel companion in cooperation with Hyperloop continues our steady progress forward.”

“We see this partnership as a validation of the technology we’re developing and as proof that the nature of our business model is working,” said HTT Chairman Bibop Gresta. “Our company structure lends itself to more collaborative partnerships that are attractive to forward-thinking organizations like Deutsche Bahn.”

The concept of a hyperloop was born from Elon Musk, who envisioned a way for people and goods to move over land at speeds traveled by airplanes through low pressure tubes that ride on an air cushion. Musk, of Tesla and SpaceX fame, is currently holding a competition for university teams and independent engineering teams to design the best hyperloop pod. Interest in the concept has launched private companies to pursue the separate hyperloop efforts, such as HTT.