I've not read anyone claiming that the Hyperloop is technologically infeasible. It re-uses a lot of known concepts and will likely work.
Most of the concerns I've read are about construction costs, safety (e.g. escaping a stuck hyperloop train), failure modes (e.g. what if the tunnel suddenly floods with air from e.g. an earthquake), practicality (the Hyperloop trains as envisioned don't support wheelchair access, and don't have toilets), and similar civil engineering challenges.
If a hyperloop were designed to transport cargo/mail then I think that would "solve" most of the perceived problems (except maybe construction cost). But transporting people adds a whole new vector of complexity to the concept.
Again the core concepts of the hyperloop are likely sound. The thing would work if we built it. But it doesn't mean it will ever be built and even if it is, that any passengers will ever be able to utilise it commercially.
The trip is short, short flights have the same issue with restrooms as you aren't allowed to use the restroom while taxi-ing or during takeoff/landing, which can easily pass 30-40 minutes, especially if there is a line to use the restroom after a delayed takeoff.
It is a pod, so wheelchair access will involve stowing the wheelchair, just like a car or seated bus.
The biggest problem in my opinion is lack of capacity for the induced demand a working hyperloop would create. A single train can carry the 4-hour capacity of an LA-SF hyperloop.
Why spend billions (perhaps trillions) of dollars to get a pod full of people to fly through a tube when we already have technologies to fly pods full of people through the air at the same or higher speeds?
Cheaper and greener air travel will be the solution to this problem in our lifetimes.
The Hyperloop would be a nightmare to inspect in a natural disaster. I know how difficult it is now to check on trains now, can't imagine this being fun.
[+] [-] UnoriginalGuy|10 years ago|reply
Most of the concerns I've read are about construction costs, safety (e.g. escaping a stuck hyperloop train), failure modes (e.g. what if the tunnel suddenly floods with air from e.g. an earthquake), practicality (the Hyperloop trains as envisioned don't support wheelchair access, and don't have toilets), and similar civil engineering challenges.
If a hyperloop were designed to transport cargo/mail then I think that would "solve" most of the perceived problems (except maybe construction cost). But transporting people adds a whole new vector of complexity to the concept.
Again the core concepts of the hyperloop are likely sound. The thing would work if we built it. But it doesn't mean it will ever be built and even if it is, that any passengers will ever be able to utilise it commercially.
[+] [-] cma|10 years ago|reply
It is a pod, so wheelchair access will involve stowing the wheelchair, just like a car or seated bus.
[+] [-] lisper|10 years ago|reply
Then you need to read this:
http://www.leancrew.com/all-this/2013/08/hyperloop/
TL;DR: thermal expansion is a show-stopper.
[+] [-] cozzyd|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|10 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] sneak|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] akhilcacharya|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mbreese|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] macinjosh|10 years ago|reply
Cheaper and greener air travel will be the solution to this problem in our lifetimes.
[+] [-] thret|10 years ago|reply
But mostly: http://smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=2088#comic
[+] [-] mattmurdog|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jacalata|10 years ago|reply
[+] [-] confiscate|10 years ago|reply
goooooo get it!