Is hyperloop safe?
Safety is our number-one priority and we're designing hyperloop to be inherently safer and more reliable than maglev or high-speed rail. We have no at-grade crossings (by far the leading risk posed by trains), so there are no interactions with other forms of transport or wildlife. We are fully autonomous, so there is no driver related error. We are immune from most weather events. We will have multiple emergency braking techniques, triggering an immediate braking of the vehicle. Vehicles will have a full suite of life support systems, and we have the ability to re-pressurize the tube if needed. We strive to surpass the safety of all existing transport systems, and have a dedicated safety team to work with regulatory authorities to define and implement best practice safety protocols.
How is hyperloop going to get certified by safety agencies and regulators?
We realize that for this technology to be commercially viable it needs to be safe and reliable. Safety is our number-one priority and we are making sure to spend the necessary time to further develop and test our technology. While we work on our technology, we simultaneously work with governments around the world to ensure our technology is safe, regulated, and intermodal. More than two-thirds of the hyperloop systems fit under existing regulatory standards – across aerospace, rail, and automotive. But for the remaining third, we'll need a new standard. We've already begun the early stages of the certification process and look forward to continuing our work with regulators to meet existing regulations where appropriate and create new ones where needed.
What happens if there's a sudden breach in the tube?
Our tubes are constructed out of thick, strong steel and are very difficult to puncture or buckle. We're designing and constructing the tube and pods explicitly to handle down to 100 Pa of pressure or more (equivalent to air pressure at 200,000 feet above sea level), changes in air pressure, and to safely tolerate small leaks, holes, and even breaches without suffering from reduced structural integrity.
If there was a leak or breach in our tube in an operational system air would leak into the tube. The affected vehicles would slow down due to the additional air pressure, or require a power boost to get them to the next station. The pods will be built to withstand even sudden air pressure changes safely. We will also have the ability to section off parts of the route and re-pressurize sections in the case of a significant emergency. Every pod will have emergency exits if needed, but mostly pods will glide safely to the next portal (station) or egress point in the event of an emergency. Additionally, we are building sensors throughout the system to notify of any leaks or breaches and we would be able to identify and perform maintenance to resolve any leaks quickly.