14 February 2020. The European standardisation organisations CEN and CENELEC have approved the creation of a new standardisation committee that will develop standards to guarantee the safety and interoperability of the new hyperloop transport systems throughout Europe. In addition, future standards will establish the requirements and verification and testing methods in this transport system.
The hyperloop is a safe, fast and energy-efficient transport system for transporting large numbers of people and goods between cities, countries and across a continent.
This is the first initiative in the world, led by Spain, to develop standards in hyperloop systems and has been promoted by the Spanish Association for Standardization (UNE) in collaboration with the Dutch standardisation body NEN. UNE is the Spanish member of CEN and CENELEC, and represents Spanish organizations in European and international forums, where the standards that enable them to compete are developed.
Thus, the European Committee for Standardization and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization have agreed on the creation of the CEN-CENELEC/JTC 20 "Hyperloop Systems" committee, bringing the cross-European network of ultra-high-speed transportation, reaching speeds of 1,100 kilometres per hour, closer to reality.
SEOPAN (Association of Infrastructure Contractor and Concessionaires), a member of UNE, has been a driving force in this initiative, having supported the project since its origins. The project's technical collaborators are the team from the Spanish company Zeleros, who are developing a scalable hyperloop transport system, and ArcelorMittal, involved in infrastructure aspects.
Hyperloop systems technologies are moving forward and deployment of these transportation systems is increasingly closer. Two major challenges must be overcome before the launch of the hyperloop system:
- Interoperability. Standards will guarantee the compatibility of the hyperloop infrastructure and systems from the outset, avoiding any future incompatibilities that will hinder the movement between countries of the European Union (EU).
- Security. Standards will establish requirements and ways of assessing compliance, in order to guarantee the safe transport of passengers and goods.
CEN-CLC/JTC 20 will be structured into working groups focused on various components of the hyperloop systems, including vehicle systems, infrastructure, pipe components, general infrastructure and communications protocols. The consortium of hyperloop companies responsible for promoting the creation of the CEN-CLC/JTC 20 committee, together with members of several national standardisation organisations and industry experts, will participate in the working groups, contributing their technical expertise.
The hyperloop is a safe, fast and energy-efficient transport system for transporting large numbers of people and goods between cities, countries and across a continent. Autonomous vehicles move by means of a magnetic floating system through a low-pressure tube network connecting cities and logistical centres. With speeds reaching 1,100 kilometres per hour, an international hyperloop system throughout Europe will effectively address current and future concerns resulting from challenges with social cohesion, sustainability, and economic growth throughout the continent. economic activity throughout the continent.
