Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan says the first Hyperloop line may be launched in Ukraine within the next five years.
“For the first time, Hyperloop will be tested at a pilot site in Toulouse. The first commercial launch is possible in Toulouse. We want to see at least one Hyperloop line in Ukraine in the next five years. It will be a right thing to negotiate with partners in China and the European Union to connect Hyperloop delivery of goods from China to the EU countries,” he said during a meeting with CEO at JumpStarter Inc, CEO Hyperloop Transportation Technologies Dirk Ahlborn.
The minister also said the works on the preliminary feasibility study were being finalized this year, and the construction of a test tube should begin in Ukraine next year.
“The construction of a test site in Ukraine depends on our cooperation with HTT (Hyperloop Transportation Technologies). If we see the feasibility of tests at an existing site in Toulouse, and build Hyperloop 2.0 or 3.0 versions in Ukraine, then we will go along this path. It all depends on how cost-effective it will be,” Omelyan said.
The minister says that now the development of the preliminary feasibility study is being carried out on a volunteer basis.
“We are doing this together with the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. So far, we are doing this on a volunteer basis, without a budget,” Omelyan said. (UNIAN/Business World Magazine)