A concept image of the system (TransPod)

By David Opinko

Calgary-Edmonton hyperloop would only take 45 minutes: feasibility study

Jun 25, 2021 | 12:24 PM

CALGARY, AB – The company looking to create an ultra-high-speed transportation system between Alberta’s two largest cities is making some incredible claims about what could be.

Toronto-based TransPod has released the results of its feasibility study.

“The results of this study are a testament to the ingenuity and innovation of the TransPod technology,” said Sebastien Gendron, co-founder and CEO of TransPod Inc. “And we are proud to play a role in the Government of Alberta’s progressive and ambitious agenda to invest in the growth and quality of life in the region.”

The hyperloop would travel at speeds of at least 600 km/hr, meaning it could be capable of completing the trip in just 45 minutes.

A quick search on Google Maps shows that driving from Calgary and Edmonton would take just over three hours.

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With an expected ridership of 6.4 million travellers in 2030 and 19.2 million by 2060, the total savings in travel time will amount to as much as 18 million hours of commuting every year.

They anticipate that tickets will cost about $90.

“Fossil-fuel-free and fully electric, it is a new generation of ultra-high-speed ground transportation that is safe, cost-efficient, and being developed for construction around the world,” reads a media release from TransPod.

According to the feasibility study, the project would create 140,000 jobs over nine years and add $19.2 billion to the province’s GDP.

Use of the hyperloop is forecast to reduce the number of vehicles travelling between Calgary and Edmonton by 32 per cent, which the company says will also lower the number of road collisions.

By keeping those cars off of the highway, the study predicts that CO2 emissions will decrease by 636,000 tonnes per year.

A memorandum of understanding was signed last summer between TransPod and the Alberta Government, with the province saying it supports the proposed project.

READ MORE: Alberta offers non-financial support for high-speed hyperloop project

Now that the feasibility study has been completed, the company will look to secure the initial investment for the first 20 km of the line this year.

Following testing, they hope to start construction in 2025.