Elon Musk revives large-scale hyperloop dream
When Elon Musk published his white paper in 2013 outlining a high-speed transportation system he dubbed the Hyperloop, it called for tunnel-based travel over hundreds of miles. By the time his Boring Co. debuted its first commercial project last year, the so-called Loop had scaled down to a considerably less ambitious network of Tesla Inc. cars driving through a one-lane tunnel under Las Vegas. Now, even as he flickers through an array of distractions that suddenly includes owning Twitter Inc., Musk is seeking to revive his earlier dream. [bloomberg.com]
Amtrak to restore full Hartford Line service
After an increase in demand, the Amtrak Hartford Line Service trains will be restored. According to Amtrak, with the help of CTDOT and MassDOT, seven trains will return in total: two operating on weekdays, one Saturday train and four Sunday trains. The trains will operate between New Haven and Springfield. This push to return the train services will restore all Amtrak Hartford Line trains to pre-pandemic operations. [nbcconnecticut.com]
Spain’s high-speed rail network to hit 2500 mi
Spain has marked the 30th anniversary of its high-speed rail network which will hit a total length of 4,000 km (2,500 mi) this year. Spain’s first high-speed line between Madrid and Sevilla was inaugurated in 1992. All eyes at present are on the new 36 km section the high-speed railway line between Madrid Chamartín station and the railway fork in the Torrejón de Velasco which includes a 7.3 km tunnel between Madrid’s two largest stations. An upgrade of the original now 30-year-old line between Madrid and Sevilla is also planned. [railtech.com]
Ontario offering unlimited pass to tempt riders
Ontario transit agency Metrolinx is offering an unlimited three-month travel pass for workers in an effort to tempt office workers — its core ridership — back onto trains. The plan allows employers to sign workers up for the travel deal, which can then be funded by businesses or employees. It was introduced as transit ridership on GO’s network continues to trend below pre-pandemic levels. Metrolinx said there will not be a cap on how many businesses can apply for the program for their workers but numbers will be monitored month-to-month. [globalnews.ca]
