A significant collaboration emerged when Tudor’s Swiss-American enterprise and TuTr from India entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in March 2022.
New Delhi: In a major development that promises to give a huge push to the country’s railway infrastructure, India is set to construct the world’s longest hyperloop test facility. This will help evaluate the feasibility of commercial operations for this advanced transport system. According to the officials, the infrastructure is capable of achieving speeds up to 1,100 kilometres per hour. It is important to note that Indian Railways has successfully completed 422-metre test track in December 2024.
Talking to ET Now, a senior official said, “Plans are being readied for a 40–50-kilometre (km) hyperloop test track in the country. It will be supported by the Indian Railways.”
What is Hyperloop?
Hyperloop is a futuristic technology in which a train travels at high speed inside a special vacuum tube. This technology promises passengers a fast and safe travel experience. According to the reports, in this hyperloop system, trains will run at a speed of 1,100 km/hr, whereas the maximum speed of a bullet train is 450 km/h. It represents an emerging high-speed mass transit system. Whilst operating similarly to railways, it utilises advanced technologies aimed at delivering greater efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Various technological approaches are being explored globally to create a transportation system featuring capsules supported by air-bearing surfaces within low-pressure tubes.
The 422-metre vacuum tube testing facility was established through a collaborative effort between Indian Railways, L&T Constructions and Avishkar Hyperloop at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras.
TuTr Hyperloop, a deep-tech venture incubated at IIT Madras, successfully conducted India’s first commercial intent hyperloop pod run on Monday. The company has been partnering with Indian Railways to accelerate the development of this groundbreaking technology. Furthermore, an official statement revealed that Indian Railways and IIT Madras will join forces to create a vertical take-off and landing vehicle, with funding provided by Indian Railways.
The hyperloop project at @iitmadras; Government-academia collaboration is driving innovation in futuristic transportation. pic.twitter.com/S1r1wirK5o
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) February 24, 2025
The potential for hyperloop technology in India is substantial. As Denis Tudor, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Co-founder at Swisspod Technologies said, “India has a great potential for hyperloop. It is estimated that a 40-kilometre test track would cost $150 -300 million upon completion depending on the dimension for the project.”
A significant collaboration emerged when Tudor’s Swiss-American enterprise and TuTr from India entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in March 2022. Both Swiss and Indian governments supported this partnership. Notably, Swisspod receives backing from Elon Musk, who serves as Senior Advisor to US President Donald Trump.
