Update from the Hyper4Rail Project – Work Packages 2 and 3
Participants in the WP2 workshop in Emden, held from March 10-14, included experts from the Institute for Hyperloop Technology of Hochschule Emden-Leer, Hardt hyperloop, TUM hyperloop, Zeleros, EuroTube Foundation, Geste Engineering, and Prose.
The Hyper4Rail Project continues to work towards harmonizing the hyperloop technology and designing a roadmap for deployment. By integrating engineering with network development, the consortium will start to refine the technical concept and use cases for hyperloop, integrating several rounds of stakeholder views.
Progress Highlights: Work Package 2 (System Design & Concept Development)
Concept of Operations (ConOps): An early ConOps framework, derived from a stakeholder survey, was created and subsequently refined based on expert feedback. This roadmap now guides system-wide analyses for alignment with operational and safety priorities.
Functional & Safety Analysis: A detailed functional breakdown of the hyperloop system was conducted by the team, defining key requirements and realizing potential hazards to inform stringent safety protocols.
Collaborative System Design: Nine working groups of experts tackled major areas—from propulsion and aerodynamics to vacuum systems and command and control—at an intensive workshop in March in Emden, Germany. Consortium partners collaborated to evaluate concepts against the ConOps, achieving consensus on viable technical pathways.
Integrated Concepts & Evaluation: Based on this, five integrated Hyperloop concepts were composed, using the results of the group work. A dedicated modeling group developed simulation tools to support the system evaluations. Each of the five system concepts was analysed in depth, both qualitatively and through simulation. The results enabled cross-comparison of approaches and completed the first iteration of Work Package 2. This sets the stage for the next iteration.
Progress Highlights: Work Package 3 (Network & Business Case Analysis)
WP3 of Hyper4Rail focuses on Network Analysis and Business Case Assessments. During the month of March, the core WP3 team – comprising Hardt, CERTH, and TIS – held weekly meetings. Additionally, one meeting with the overall consortium took place to present preliminary findings and facilitate collaborative discussions.
Working sessions were structured as sprints, primarily aimed at developing a portfolio of alternative route scenarios to form the backbone of a Hyperloop network. Key input data for modelling activities include origin-destination pairs from aviation, complemented by scientifically validated traffic demand models that take into consideration the most relevant factors affecting mode choice.
These research activities are guided by different mission statements that explore Hyperloop’s potential role within the broader EU multimodal transport system, considering a mix of high and ultra-high-speed connections across Europe. The ambition is to align with existing and future EU transport policies, reinforcing the EU Single Transport Area and contributing to strategic objectives such as decarbonisation, regional connectivity, resilience, and competitiveness.
In the coming month, the focus will be on strengthening alignment with WP2 (Concept of Operations) and engaging external stakeholders to validate preliminary results. This will support the selection of the most promising use cases, which will be subject to business case analysis.
Looking Ahead
With Work Package 2 completing its first cycle and Work Package 3 advancing towards network validation, the project is poised to bridge the gap between technical innovation and everyday feasibility. Watch this space for further updates as we mature concepts, solidify partnerships, and push forward a revolutionary vision for European transport.