The European Commission recently presented a comprehensive fact-finding study assessing the current state of the European hyperloop sector and exploring possible avenues for EU support. Hyperloop has the potential to dramatically reduce travel times across the continent, delivering ultra-high-speed, low-emission passenger and freight mobility whilst contributing to decarbonisation, digitalisation, regional cohesion, and industrial renewal, all of which make it strategically relevant for the EU's long-term transport agenda.

Hyperloop technology, explicitly mentioned in the EU's Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy under Action 47, represents a paradigm shift in high-speed transportation. Operating through autonomous levitating pods that carry passengers or goods at high speed inside low-pressure tubes, hyperloop combines ultra-efficient electric propulsion, magnetic levitation, and low-drag environments to achieve speeds well beyond conventional rail while consuming significantly less energy. 

• The study confirms that hyperloop is maturing quickly and could soon move from prototyping to demonstration-scale testing, representing a critical transition from laboratory concepts to real-world validation of operational and technological solutions adapted from aerospace and rail sectors.
• The study identifies key challenges facing the sector including uncertain business cases, high capital costs, and regulatory fragmentation across national jurisdictions, highlighting the need for coordinated EU-level action to facilitate testing environments and align hyperloop development with long-term TEN-T network objectives.

This comprehensive assessment positions hyperloop within the broader European research and innovation landscape, recognising its potential to complement existing transport modes rather than replace them entirely. The technology addresses specific transport needs where ultra-high-speed, point-to-point connections can provide value for both passenger and freight applications. 

By supporting hyperloop development through enabling innovation, experimentation, and long-term coherence across national and regional systems, the EU positions itself at the forefront of next-generation transport technologies. 

Source: https://transport.ec.europa.eu/news-events/news/new-eu-study-assesses-progress-and-prospects-hyperloop-technology-2025-11-12_en