The fact that one high-caliber bullet can shut down a multi-billion dollar transport system is all that needs to be said. It's a silly idea and is best made on the Moon or Mars where atmospheric pressure is already low enough to not cause catastrophic failure.
The Hyperloop’s Only Destination Is a Capitalist Hellscape
51–60 of 87 posts
Re: The Hyperloop’s Only Destination Is a Capitalist Hellscape
#52I read the entire article just to find its underlying foundation rearing its ugly head near its end: > Maybe we’ll even have a line in the U.S. that Wall Street execs and DC lobbyists will use to blast up and down the Eastern Seaboard for business lunches. But you and me? We’ll be stuck on dilapidated Amtrak lines[...] > our only consolation the fact that the hyperloop’s vacuum-sealed tubes don’t have windows, so its…
That's not at all what the author is saying. He's arguing that it would be better, easier, and provide more value for more people if instead of things like Hyperloops we invested in high speed rail. If you've ever been to the US you'll know the transport infrastructure is TERRIBLE. Compared to Europe (and from the reading the article, Japan too it seems) American public transport is embarrassing; rusty diesel locomotives and pot holed roads. Having a high speed rail network in America would most certainly not be keeping everything the same.
Re: The Hyperloop’s Only Destination Is a Capitalist Hellscape
#53I read the entire article just to find its underlying foundation rearing its ugly head near its end: > Maybe we’ll even have a line in the U.S. that Wall Street execs and DC lobbyists will use to blast up and down the Eastern Seaboard for business lunches. But you and me? We’ll be stuck on dilapidated Amtrak lines[...] > our only consolation the fact that the hyperloop’s vacuum-sealed tubes don’t have windows, so its…
I think this falls down because things aren’t getting better, at least in the US. People are less likely to own a house than their parents were at their age, minimum wage hasn’t increased in line with inflation and has therefore effectively decreased, higher education is more expensive etc.
And then you see people who profit off of making things worse buying their third house and you start to think it’s not exactly fair.
Re: The Hyperloop’s Only Destination Is a Capitalist Hellscape
#54I read the entire article just to find its underlying foundation rearing its ugly head near its end: > Maybe we’ll even have a line in the U.S. that Wall Street execs and DC lobbyists will use to blast up and down the Eastern Seaboard for business lunches. But you and me? We’ll be stuck on dilapidated Amtrak lines[...] > our only consolation the fact that the hyperloop’s vacuum-sealed tubes don’t have windows, so its…
When do you anticipate electric vehicles will become mainstream in your country?
Re: The Hyperloop’s Only Destination Is a Capitalist Hellscape
#55Maybe that capitalist hellscape will add solar freakin' roadways while they're at it.
More solar is good, but we have space for it elsewhere. It's cheaper and easier to have roads be "plain old roads".
Re: The Hyperloop’s Only Destination Is a Capitalist Hellscape
#56I read the entire article just to find its underlying foundation rearing its ugly head near its end: > Maybe we’ll even have a line in the U.S. that Wall Street execs and DC lobbyists will use to blast up and down the Eastern Seaboard for business lunches. But you and me? We’ll be stuck on dilapidated Amtrak lines[...] > our only consolation the fact that the hyperloop’s vacuum-sealed tubes don’t have windows, so its…
When do you anticipate electric vehicles will become mainstream in your country?
Taxis and buses are already starting to use EVs due to tax subsidies for businesses so we know that reducing taxes works, but even with our currently "slightly less statist than average" government that's a long shot for regular people to get the same benefits anytime soon. This is in Uruguay FWIW.
Re: The Hyperloop’s Only Destination Is a Capitalist Hellscape
#57I read the entire article just to find its underlying foundation rearing its ugly head near its end: > Maybe we’ll even have a line in the U.S. that Wall Street execs and DC lobbyists will use to blast up and down the Eastern Seaboard for business lunches. But you and me? We’ll be stuck on dilapidated Amtrak lines[...] > our only consolation the fact that the hyperloop’s vacuum-sealed tubes don’t have windows, so its…
I know right? I work hard and do well for my family, but I know there are folks who have much higher incomes and wealth and enjoy much more privileges. Some of them have earned it and some haven't. I spend zero percent of my life being upset about this. Why do so many young people in basically my same life station fret about it so very much? It seems very toddlerish, to be so upset just because you saw someone with a…
Re: The Hyperloop’s Only Destination Is a Capitalist Hellscape
#58Many years ago, when Hyperloop's design was first announced, tlb pointed out that steel expands during summer, and that the expansion from SF to LA was roughly 400m (if I remember correctly) over a so-and-so temperature difference during summer. Where does the steel go? I'm not sure there's been a satisfactory answer to that question. Expansion joints are very hard when you need to maintain a vacuum.
This isn't actually a problem! We build gas pipelines all the time which suffer exactly the same problem. (and no, you don't want gas pipelines to leak!) You can use expansion joints, or grooved couplings that enable movement, and there are other solutions as well. I think the problem that people have is that they assume you need some really intense vacuum for hyperloop to work. .05 bar (the pressure at 60,000 ft) is…
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=expansion+loop&iax=images&ia=image...
Re: The Hyperloop’s Only Destination Is a Capitalist Hellscape
#59Is public money going toward this? If not, why do you care how a private individual uses their money?
Personally, I care because it diverts attention and thrust from developing proven alternatives to air travel, such as HSR. When something that big hinges on a narrow swing in public opinion, and someone starts dangling a pie in the sky idea, the result can be abandonment of the main idea, at the service of an unlikely moonshot by a big ego.
frankly (as an east-coaster) I would be happy just to see the existing rail lines be price competitive with airlines. I greatly prefer traveling by train, and I would be willing to accept a longer transit time if it were not both slower and more expensive.
Re: The Hyperloop’s Only Destination Is a Capitalist Hellscape
#60I can see the Louis Vitton seats from here.