Big step forward for the Hyperloop

But the first Hyperloop test track is inching closer to being built.

Hyperloop has announced its core team working on a full scale hyperloop has now surpassed 400 professionals.

The latest indication that the next-generation transport system should be taken seriously comes from Hyperloop Transportation Technologies’ (HTT) announcement of the addition of Switzerland-based Oerlikon Leybold Vacuum, Hodgetts + Fung Architects and Los Angeles engineering firm AECOM to its efforts.

“Our team continues to grow and, along with these new alliances, is representative of the collaborative spirit of HTT and are key to our success in breaking ground in 2016”, said Dirk Ahlborn, the group’s CEO.

The startup plans to start construction on a full-scale, passenger-ready Hyperloop in 2016.

“HTT’s technology is very exciting and could have a significant impact on transportation infrastructure in the future”, Andrew Liu, vice-president of New Ventures at, AECOM said. JumpStartFund created Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Inc, which brought together engineers willing to spend their free time working on the design in exchange for stock options. Skeptics’ initial doubts about the cost and feasibility of the technology in practice have lingered, but on Thursday a big step was made toward the construction of a prototype between San Francisco and Los Angeles. In the most basic sense, people would travel through a tube inside of a pod while being propelled by a system of fans. “It has potential but some of his concepts still need further work”. “From a technical point of view, it’s not a challenge”. “We contribute in delivering our extensive expertise [and the] necessary calculations to create and maintain the partial vacuum that is needed to reach such high speeds”.

HTT, which was founded in 2013, finished its Hyperloop development study in 2014 and Ahlborn said that HTT is now making sure all of the permits are in place so that it can begin the process of selecting builders for the project. He’s approaching this the right way.

On the other hand, Oerlikon is, according to WIRED, only putting a dozen employees on the project, and it’s unclear what exactly Aecom will be doing.

The Hyperloop just got a little more official.

The project will theoretically powered by all the wind turbines and solar panels Ahlborn is building in Quay Valley. “This is something we should be involved in, ‘” Brockmeyer says.