Rail E-SSENTIALS

Our safety guidelines for Hyperloop applications 

This year, TÜV SÜD has published the first ever complete guidelines for Hyperloop applications. “Hyperloop” is an umbrella term for innovative high-speed transportation systems. The guideline developed by TÜV SÜD defines the safety-related requirements relevant to this type of technology. US company Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HyperloopTT) has already incorporated these requirements in the development of its Hyperloop application. Last year TÜV SÜD and HyperloopTT presented the preliminary version of the guideline to the European Commission.

The publication of the TÜV SÜD guideline is an important milestone in global standardization of Hyperloop transportation systems. Safety is one of the core factors for acceptance of innovative technologies by the public and the market.

US company Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HyperloopTT), based in Los Angeles, California, is working on the development of a high-speed system which can transport passengers and freight over long distances. Transport capsules powered by electricity travel through a system of vacuum tubes at speeds of up to 1,100 kilometres per hour.

TÜV SÜD has reviewed the Hazard Analysis and Risk Assessment (HARA) of the HyperloopTT system and used it as the basis for developing a guideline that defines the key safety requirements for the design, construction, and operation of these systems. The TÜV SÜD guideline has also considered existing regulations and experience in fields such as rail, metro systems, cable cars, amusement rides, aviation, and the process industry, and aligned them to the specific requirements of Hyperloop technology.

Taking a holistic approach, the TÜV SÜD guideline defines a host of aspects including the core safety requirements for the transport capsules, the drive system, the environmental control and life support system (ECLSS), the tubes, and the evacuation procedure in case of emergency.

Our generic guideline is our significant contribution to making an innovative technology like Hyperloop safe and reliable. The guideline also offers a robust basis for the standardization of Hyperloop systems and development of harmonized regulations for national approval procedures as well as for certification of individual components and complete systems.

• The guideline can be downloaded in PDF format from the TÜV SÜD website for a fee of EUR 1,000 (excl. VAT): https://www.tuvsud.com/HyperloopGuideline.
• Further information about HTT’s hyperloop system can be found at www.hyperloop.global.