Watch: Ashwini Vaishnaw lauds ‘Bharat’s first’ Hyperloop test track by IIT Madras

If successful, Hyperloop technology holds transformative potential for urban mobility

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared a video on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, showcasing the completion of India’s first ever 410-meter Hyperloop test track. The test track, located at IIT Madras' discovery campus in Thaiyur, is the result of a collaborative effort between Indian Railways, IIT Madras' Avishkar Hyperloop team, and TuTr Hyperloop, a startup incubated at the institute.

“Bharat’s first Hyperloop test track (410 meters) completed. Thumbs up to Team Railways, IIT-Madras' Avishkar Hyperloop team and TuTr (incubated startup),” Vaishnaw wrote on X.

Watch: Bharats first Hyperloop test track (410 meters) completed. Team Railways, IIT-Madras Avishkar Hyperloop team and TuTr (incubated startup)At IIT-M discovery campus, Thaiyur pic.twitter.com/jjMxkTdvAd

Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) December 5, 2024

According to an official release, the Hyperloop team’s central objective is the advancement and commercialisation of Hyperloop technologies for high-speed, affordable, reliable and sustainable transportation. India’s Ministry of Railways is a key partner to this Hyperloop technology development initiative at IIT Madras.

The 410-meter Hyperloop test track was first tested at a speed of 100 km/h, with plans to increase speeds up to 600 km/h on a longer track in the next phase of trials.

If successful, Hyperloop technology holds transformative potential for urban mobility, offering India a promising opportunity to supplement its existing Metro Rail infrastructure and revolutionise the nation's transportation ecosystem.