CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The hyperloop is coming to West Virginia, according to a new release.
Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Hyperloop announced Thursday it plans to open a certification center and testing track in West Virginia for its transformative transport technology.
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Hyperloop technology uses pods inside a tube to transport people at speeds of more than 700 mph.
“Today is one of the most exciting days in Virgin Hyperloop’s history,” said Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, in a release. “The Hyperloop Certification Center is the start of the hyperloop journey for West Virginia, for the United States, and for the world. We’re one step closer to making hyperloop travel a reality for people everywhere.”
The company said in a release that beyond progressing hyperloop regulatory and commercial goals, the certification center will create thousands of new jobs across construction, manufacturing, operations, and high-tech sectors.
West Virginia will be the location of the first hyperloop certification facility. Several areas in the U.S. are considering the technology for future transportation projects, including Chicago, Columbus, Ohio, Pittsburgh, Missouri and Texas.
Virgin Hyperloop says its aim is to achieve safety certification by 2025, with commercial operations beginning in 2030.
[ Study: How much would a hyperloop ticket cost in Pittsburgh? ]
A recent study found that the hyperloop could transport people from Chicago to Columbus in under 45 minutes and cost about $60 per ticket. Columbus to Pittsburgh could take less than 30 minutes for a ticket price of about $33.
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