Zipping to a city near you : the plane without wings by Shana Jones
Imagine sipping your coffee on the train ride to a business meeting in the next city . You glance down at the cars floating by below , seemingly little toys being pushed along a little plastic freeway by some invisible child ’ s hand . The air around you is quiet ; so quiet , in fact , that you don ’ t even feel you ’ re zipping by those toys at 1000 + kph . No , this isn ’ t some engineering nerd ’ s fantasy ; this is the FluxJet , the ultra-high speed , economically impactful , sustainable inter-city ground travel of the future .
According to ambitious Canadian start-up
TransPod , the FluxJet , “ disrupt [ s ] and redefine [ s ] passenger and cargo transportation . . . transform [ ing ] the way we live , work , and travel .” The vehicle , dubbed a plane without wings , is essentially a pod that will travel on a network of enclosed dedicated guideways connecting major cities and key locations . High-frequency departures ( every 80 seconds ), travel speeds in excess of 1000 kph , and a construction design that ensures a smooth ride even over rough terrain indicate greater convenience , flexibility and comfort for passengers . TransPod has secured USD $ 550 million for the program and recently announced the next phase of a USD $ 18 billion infrastructure project for the construction of the TransPod Line to run between the Canadian cities of Calgary and Edmonton . The first route should be operational by 2035 with the possibility of others in the United States , the United Arab Emirates and Australia on the horizon .
Amid all the optimism about this promise of next-level transport lies the question of sustainability i . e ., how the FluxJet will affect the people and environment around it . Undoubtedly , FluxJet ’ s greatest and most compelling achievement is a fully electric design that makes it zero-emissions . Furthermore , the electricity is sourced only from regional service providers that operate in renewable energy . This clean-energy feature is projected to decrease carbon emissions by 636,000 tons per year , making it a key player in the global commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 . Environmentally conscious passengers will applaud this reduction while enjoying a 44 % less travel cost on served routes . Likewise , citizens around the inaugural Edmonton-Calgary route will benefit from 140,000 jobs created and USD $ 19.2 billion added to the regional GDP .
TransPod understands that with the worsening climate crisis and the coincident rise in demand for transportation worldwide , carbon emission needs to be reined in . At the same time , passengers are increasingly demanding speed , convenience and comfort on the ride to their destinations . At this “ nexus of scientific research , industrial development , and massive infrastructure ,” TransPod remains committed to , “ address [ ing ] passengers ’ needs and reduce [ ing ]… dependence on fossil fuel-heavy jets and highways .” The FluxJet boldly embraces the task of marrying these two mandates .
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