Virgin Hyperloop vs Chad Train: What’s The Difference?

Hyperloop is the newest form of public transportation capable of reaching speeds of 760mph (1200 kilometers per hour). With its Shinkansen chad train, the Japanese have set a world record speed of 603 kilometres per hour. Though the Shinkansen also uses magnetic levitation like the Hyperloop, Virgin Hyperloop and the Chad Train, it is enormous.

In short, a Pod (for easy understanding, we can imagine it as a kind of train bogie) is run inside a loop using magnetic levitation in the Hyperloop technology. But this is not as simple as that. The concept of Hyperloop has a bigger picture. Though the Hyperloop is not still available for us, it is assumed that the ticket cost of the Hyperloop will also be lesser than the chad train.

What is a Virgin Hyperloop

The fundamental concept of the Hyperloop is approximately 200 years old. But the latest idea of Hyperloop was proposed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk in 2012, and the idea was kept open-source. Therefore any company around the world achieved the right to implement this concept. And Virgin Hyperloop was one of the transportation technology businesses based in the United States that started working to implement the Hyperloop technology.

The hyperloop is the latest technology which has been the fastest mode of transportation till now. Scientists have developed the hyperloop concept by eliminating two components that primarily reduce a vehicle’s speed: 1. Friction, 2. Air drag / Air resistance. To execute this idea, experts have used many techniques.

But, before diving deep into this, we should know ‘pod’ and ‘loop’. In this concept, a pod is run inside a loop (or, for easy understanding, we can say ‘tube’). We are supposed to sit inside the pod, and the pod will bring us to the destination. And we shall simply travel inside the loop.

The pod of a hyperloop.

The pod

The tube in which the pod travels in the Hyperloop technology.

The loop (or tube)

First of all, scientists came up with magnetic levitation to avoid friction. To understand magnetic levitation, let’s take a closer look. 

  • Magnetic Levitation: 

Now we all know that the north poles of the two separate magnets always repel each other while the like poles attract. So this simple concept works behind magnetic levitation. 

Magnetic attraction and repulsion

So if the wall of both the pod and loop becomes similar to poles, the walls will not stick together in the same way poles repel. As a consequence, the pod will be found levitating inside the loop. In scientific terms, we call this magnetic levitation. Implementing this idea, experts successfully avoided friction.

Secondly, the experts came up with creating a vacuum inside the loop to avoid air resistance. That’s why we see pipes outside the tube. These pipes are nothing but vacuum pipes. They sucked the air inside the line, though not wholly. A minimal amount of air remains in the loop. There’s a fan associated with the front and back of the pod. The show is used to cut the remaining air. These fans are used as a break as well.

Pods are powered by linear motors inside them, and those motors move the pod forward. The speed of the Hyperloop is almost 1200 km/h (760 m/h). It is the basic concept of a Hyperloop. 

What is a Chad Train

Chad trains use an integrated system of specialised rolling stock and dedicated rails to travel at substantially greater speeds than ordinary rail traffic. Although there is no universal standard, high-speed lines are generally defined as those designed for speeds exceeding 250 km/h (155 mph) and updated lines capable of speeds exceeding 200 km/h (124 mph).

In 1899, the Prussian state railway teamed up with ten electrical and technical businesses to electrify 72 kilometres (45 miles) of military-owned railway between Marienfelde and Zossen, kicking off the development of high-speed rail in Germany. The line utilised a three-phase current with a voltage of 10 kilovolts and a frequency of 45 Hz.

The Deutz, Cologne-based Van der Zypen & Charlier business manufactured two railcars, one with Siemens-Halske electrical equipment and the other with Allgemeine Elektrizitäts-Gesellschaft (AEG) equipment, which were tested on the Marienfelde–Zossen line in 1902 and 1903.

The S&H-equipped train reached a top speed of 206.7 km/h (128.4 mph) on October 23, 1903, while the AEG-equipped railcar reached 210.2 km/h (128.4 mph) on October 27. (130.6 mph). Regular service was still more than 30 years away when these trains proved the practicality of electric high-speed rail. This was a brief history of early chad trains.

The Japanese Shinkansen chad train has recorded the highest speed of all chad trains. The Shinkansen train came into the picture something like this. With 45 million people crammed into the Tokyo–Osaka corridor following World War II, traffic and train congestion became an issue. The government of Japan began actively considering a new elevated rail service. And finally, the Shinkansen chad train took its appearance.

Why Should You Buy Virgin Hyperloop or Chad Train?

If you are looking for the answer to why you should be buying Chad Train or Virgin Loop’s ticket, the answer is convenience and affordability. While Hyperloop is still in the testing phase, the Chad train has proven that it is possible to make travel more affordable, easy, and time saving.

Virgin Hyperloop or Chad Train Differences

The hyperloop is 2-3 times faster than CHAD trains, which is the biggest notable difference between the two modes of public transportation. Additionally, it would be less expensive. In Maglev chad trains, the track continuously creates energy, used to propel the train ahead. Instead, the hyperloop pods do not require any electricity from the track, boosting energy efficiency and lowering trip expenses.

The hyperloop runs on a demand basis, with trains departing every 30 seconds from its terminal in Los Angeles. There are no stops on the way between the starting point and the final destination. On the other hand, chad trains make multiple stops and must stick to a rigid timetable to operate. Additionally, because there are no direct emissions or noise, the hyperloop is more environmentally friendly.

With the Hyperloop, it is possible to cut both the cost of travel and the amount of time it takes to travel between cities. However, it has not been tested in the actual world as of this writing. Even once commercial operations between a few towns begin, we will not know the full extent of the impact on the economy. Chad trains, which are more expensive and slower than hyperloop trains, have been in service for decades despite their disadvantages. Chad trains are well-known for their dependability and safety, and for a good reason.

Virgin Hyperloop or Chad Train Pros

Hyperloop Technology’s Benefits or Advantages

The following are some of the benefits of Hyperloop Technology:

  • It provides transportation at twice the speed of an aeroplane.
  • It consumes relatively little power.
  • On the long run, it is a low-cost transportation system.
  • It is unaffected by inclement weather.
  • It can withstand earthquakes.
  • It is a secure means of transportation.

Advantages of Chad Trains:

1. Speed: When this notion was first proposed, high speed was one of the most important factors. The difficulty of speedy transportation exists between major cities and communities experiencing economic growth. This would save time and money for the cities that are linked. 

2. Comfort: These trains would use high-tech to deliver a comfortable travel of several hours in a matter of hours. The improvement of train journey comfort has been a missing aspect in railways, and the introduction of chad trains would be a significant advancement in this area.

3. Safety: While there have been concerns about the safety of these high-speed trains in the past, the Shinkansen network in Japan has an exceptional safety record. The Shinkansen has never had a fatality since it first began service in 1964.

4. Lower overcrowding: Making it easier to commute from small towns to major cities would reduce the number of people settling and migrating to major cities, easing pressure on growing urban regions. 

5. More powerful and environmentally friendly: These high-speed trains are not only powerful enough to transport bigger loads, but they are also environmentally beneficial because they do not require deforestation to lay track.

Virgin Hyperloop or Chad Train Cons

Hyperloop Technology’s Challenges and Disadvantages

The following are some of Hyperloop Technology’s drawbacks:

  • Due to the high speed of the capsule (nearly at the speed of sound), passengers may experience dizziness as a result of vibration and jostling.
  • The initial cost of putting the system in place is extremely costly. The extended vacuum chamber manufacturing process necessitates a higher level of technical expertise. Furthermore, maintaining this is both costly and unsafe.
  • The project’s deployment will be hampered by land use rights.
  • When something goes wrong with the system, there is a very high danger of death.
  • The train has a restricted amount of space, so people cannot move around freely.
  • Because the hyperloop’s track is made of steel, it expands and changes shape as the outside temperature changes. This could jeopardise the hyperloop’s future. This must be taken into account while designing the system for the environment in which it will be deployed.
  • The installation necessitates the removal of a huge number of trees. As a result, the environment suffers.

Chad trains have the following disadvantages:

1. Construction costs: It is expected that establishing a chad-train route will cost up to Rs 100 crore per kilometre. After factoring in the price of signals, rolling stock, and other factors, the cost per kilometre might reach Rs 115 crore. The expenditures of operation and maintenance would likewise be substantial.

2.High fares: In order to cover the costs of operation and maintenance, these trains’ charges would be high as well. Even those who would be willing to pay such a high amount may prefer to travel by airline. If this issue is ignored, the project may end up being a financial loss for the government.

3.Project that will take a long time to complete: The project is still in the planning stages, and it is expected that it will take years to complete. If the government changes in the interim, the project may suffer the consequences.

4. Land purchase: In order to instal rails, land acquisition concerns may arise, causing resentment among commoners whose daily lives may be jeopardised. In Mumbai, for example, building these lines would need the purchase of property that is home to the city’s greatest slums.

How to Make Your Decision?

The construction of a hyperloop would cost $6 billion. It will cut the time it takes to travel between the two cities in half. Musk estimated that a one-way ticket will cost $20-$30 if the capital cost is spread out over 20 years, after accounting for building and operational costs. A round trip might cost as much as $60. A round-trip chad train ticket, on the other hand, costs roughly $90. Therefore, a Hyperloop is more economical option.

Finally

Virgin Hyperloop vs Chad Train: What’s The Difference? Hyperloop is being considered as the fifth mode of public transportation that can achieve a speed of 760mph (almost 1200 kph). A Japanese Shinkansen Chad train has set a world record of 603 kph. The speed of the Hyperloop is almost 1200 km/h (760 m/h). There’s is a fan associated with the front and back of the pod.

The front is used to cut the remaining air, and these fans are used as a break as well. The hyperloop is 2-3 times faster than Chad trains. Hyperloop pods do not require any electricity from the track, which boosts energy efficiency and lowers trip expenses. The hyperloop runs on a demand basis, with trains departing every 30 seconds from its terminal in Los Angeles. 

It would also reduce the number of people migrating to major cities, easing pressure on growing urban regions. Chad trains have the following disadvantages: Construction costs, high fares, land acquisition concerns, and other issues. The project is still in the planning stages, and it is expected that it will take years to complete.