Russia Eyeing Its Own Hyperloop

Russia Eyeing Its Own Hyperloop

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They Hyperloop hasn’t arrived yet, but already some international officials are eyeing up the prize. Elon Musk’s futuristic transport system is promising to revolutionise conveyance of goods and people, and everyone wants in on the deal. Local news reports in Russia suggest the country is thinking of its Hyperloop-like project to connect the country north to south and east to west.

The first section of the proposed system would connect Moscow to ports on the Baltic Sea, with a Moscow to St Petersburg line following soon after, reports local news service RBC.

“The cost of the project by western standards, US$21 billion, according to our standards, about half as much, $12 to $13 billion,” said Anatoly Zaitsev, head of St Petersburg Railway Innovation Development Centre, in an interview with RBC.

Earlier in May, Russian transport Minister Maxim Sokolov said that the country is ready for just such a high-speed transport system.

“Probably, Russia is ready as no other country for the implementation of this project,” said Sokolov, as quoted by TASS. “As for the Hyperloop project, similar works have been conducted for quite a long time. Do we expect any steps in this connection? In principle, yes, and our transport strategy through 2030 reflects the use of new developments accumulated in the sphere of transport, including new transport means.”

With the current state of affairs in the country, however, any such project remains unlikely. It’s safe to call Zaitsev’s estimates completely unrealistic, and it’s enough to recall past projects to see why. The 2014 Winter Olympics at Sochi were planned to cost a grand total of $12bn, but due to corruption costs ballooned to a staggering $51bn. In the current climate, and considering the heavy economic sanctions Russia is facing, construction of this project is very doubtful.