Overview
Imagine a network of super-fast trains hurtling to every corner of the continent at more than 800 km/h (500 mph). And they don’t have rails. They could provide a more reliable and comfortable alternative to air travel, as they wouldn’t be held up by weather or related issues. Hybrid strategic design consultancy is working on an elevated train system called AeroSlider, and the concept looks like it comes straight from a science fiction movie.
The Science and Other Stuff to Know
As noted, the most notable feature of the AeroSlider is that it requires no tracks. Instead, it floats through a series of unobtrusive magnetic hyperloops 19 meters (65 feet) above the ground. Those loops propel the train forward, much like a rail gun.
The result? Well, airliners generally fly around 885 km/h (550 mph). With speeds reaching 800 km/h (500 mph), that means these trains would offer the same speedy journeys. Manyone describes their invention as “a terrestrial yet rail-less passenger system connecting the most populous cities on the European, African, and Asian continents.”
According to Manyone’s website, this futuristic intercontinental travel system can be “powered by localized energy sources” and has in place a high-tech system to reduce the train’s energy demands. The company also noted that they are able to reduce the effective weight by about 10 percent by incorporating helium reservoirs in the capsule, which reduces the energy necessary for propulsion. I
t’s equipped with a running track, open plaza area, bars, gyms, restaurants, and multi-purpose rooms which can accommodate meetings and work while commuting. Moreover, passenger cars are massive with a length of up to 820 feet (250 meters). This offers ultimate comfort for those on board.
So What?
The AeroSlider could be ideal for long travel, allowing individuals to travel fast distances quickly no matter what the weather is doing. If it doesn’t replace commercial air travel, it could at least reduce much of the congestion that happens during peak travel seasons, like the holidays and summer months.
Finally, commercial flights come with exceptionally high carbon footprints. These railless trains could help offset some of the climate impacts that comes with our current forms of travel.
What Next?
For now, the AeroSlider is just a concept, but if it works, it could give Elon Musk’s and Richard Branson’s Hyperloops a run for their money. So far, Branson’s hyperloop has made a successful crewed test at 160 km/h (100 mph). Once complete, it’s expected to reach up to 965 km/h (600 mph). Musk’s hyperloop, on the other hand, has achieved speeds of 324 km/h (200 mph) and is set to reach 1,223 km/h (760 mph) once fully operational.
