Dutch Startup Achieves European Speed Record for Hyperloop Travel

Hardt Hyperloop, a Dutch technology startup, recently set a new European speed record for its futuristic hyperloop transport system by reaching 85 kilometers per hour (kph) on the 420-meter European Hyperloop Center test track in the Netherlands.

This marked a notable increase from previous tests where speeds were limited to 30 kph on the same track.

The company successfully demonstrated a complex lane-switching maneuver, an essential feature for enabling networked hyperloop routes. This breakthrough indicates there are no significant technical barriers to operating at aircraft-like speeds in networked hyperloop systems.

What milestone did Hardt Hyperloop achieve in the Netherlands?

Hardt Hyperloop reached a top speed of 85 kph on its test track in the European Hyperloop Center, located in the Netherlands. This achievement is a new European speed record for hyperloop vehicles tested on a transit system with a vacuum tube.

This progress represents significant advancement from the prior year, when tests on the same track recorded speeds of just 30 kph. The European Hyperloop Center has now hosted more than 750 test missions since its opening in 2024.

Did you know?
The European Hyperloop Center in the Netherlands has hosted over 750 test missions since its opening in 2024.

How does lane switching advance hyperloop technology?

Future hyperloop networks will greatly benefit from the lane switching test that Hardt Hyperloop conducted. It enables pods to switch lanes smoothly within the vacuum tube infrastructure, facilitating flexible routing and more complex track designs.

This maneuver showed that lane switching can occur safely and reliably at speeds similar to those of aircraft. Such capability removes a major technical hurdle for building interconnected hyperloop transport networks across regions.

What speeds are expected for future hyperloop travel?

Tim Houter, the co-founder of Hardt Hyperloop, stated that the company is ready to achieve speeds of up to 700 kph once they develop longer test tracks and infrastructure. This would put hyperloop travel on par with or faster than many current air travel speeds.

Backers of the technology emphasize its potential to cut energy use dramatically compared to planes and trains while drastically reducing travel times for shorter distances.

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How does Europe's hyperloop progress compare internationally?

While Asia, especially China, is actively pushing ahead with high-speed transport projects testing at over 600 kph and aiming for major city links by 2035, Europe's hyperloop development remains in earlier stages. Germany and Italy are exploring infrastructure options but have not yet committed to extended test tracks.

Hardt Hyperloop’s progress on the lane switching and speed milestones places it as a leading player in European hyperloop innovation.

What future impact could hyperloop have on European travel?

If commercial hyperloop systems are realized, they could replace many short-haul flights within Europe, reducing congestion at airports and cutting carbon emissions. The technology promises energy-efficient, high-speed transport through vacuum tubes with near-supersonic speeds.

Developments like those at the European Hyperloop Center signal promising steps toward such transformative transport solutions, provided infrastructure investments and regulatory approvals follow.

Europe’s hyperloop dream is moving closer to reality as innovative startups prove key technologies and set new performance benchmarks.