Virgin unveils its pod prototype that will carry passengers at speeds of up to 760mph in 12mins

Imagine having this type of pod train that can transport you from Lagos to Abuja in just 12mins? As in seriously? well Dubai is always a step ahead of others and they have done the same here too as well.

Virgin has unveiled a stunning prototype of the pods that will carry passengers at speeds of up to 760mph (1,200 kmh) when it launches its Hyperloop service in Dubai.

Hyperloop’s low friction design means that passengers will be able to travel the 87 miles (140 km) between the city and neighbouring Abu Dhabi in 12 minutes, a journey that takes around 90 minutes by car.

The concept pods give a first glimpse of the luxurious conditions inside the futuristic transport vehicles, which could be launched as soon as 2020.

Dubai’s Road Transport Authority (RTA), which wants 25 per cent of all journeys to be driverless by 2030, unveiled the hyperloop design at a ceremony in the city as part of its participation in the UAE’s Innovation Month.

Virgin’s Hyperloop One offshoot has invested in the multi-billion pound project and is working closely with Dubai’s RTA.

Richard Branson also announced a similar project for Mumbai a few days ago.

The pods themselves boast deluxe interiors, leather seats and high definition screens for displaying information and entertainment.

Each pod is designed to travel short and medium distances and can accommodate up to ten passengers.

Rob Lloyd, CEO of Virgin Hyperloop One said: ‘The UAE and RTA were early supporters of our Hyperloop technology, so it is particularly exciting to be unveiling the Dubai Hyperloop pod with the RTA.

‘Our focus in 2018 would be continuing the close collaboration with RTA to progress to the next phase of the project.

‘Our aim would be to explore the viability of a wider UAE Hyperloop network.’

Hyperloop uses an electromagnetic propulsion system to accelerate levitating pods through a vacuum tube.

This level of speed is achieved by reducing air pressure inside the tube to an equivalent measure experienced at 200,000 feet above sea level.

The service is expected to carry around 10,000 passengers per hour in both directions.

In a written statement, His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, director general of the RTA, said: ‘When introduced in future, the hyperloop technology will impact the town planning and the availability of parking spaces.

‘It will revolutionise people mobility between various destinations in the city, logistical hubs like airports and ports, and shipping patterns.

‘These pods, the first of their kind worldwide, have been designed to travel over short and medium distances on dedicated lanes.

‘They can be coupled in 15 to 20 seconds or detached, depending on the destination of riders, in five seconds.

‘They are fitted with cameras and electro-mechanical technologies to carry out the coupling and detaching processes, and this feature can be activated in-motion.’

Credit: DailyMail