VIDEO: Is Hyperloop the future of mass transit?

For anyone forced to travel often as part of their work commute or far-reaching responsibilities, it can become apparent pretty quickly that congested traffic and long distances between destinations can waste a lot of precious time. Over the years, mass transit has moved from the basic horse-drawn carriage all the way up to the most advanced rail systems.

According to CNBC, some of the world’s fastest trains use a maglev system and can reach speeds of up to 300 mph.  These types of vehicles are ideal for individuals that need to travel frequently between main cities.  The Department of Energy explains that maglev trains do not use traditional rails but rather magnets that suspend the train a few inches above the platform.  This lack of friction allows the train to move at incredible speeds, propelled only by the magnets’ opposing forces.

One new company, Hyperloop One, thinks that the top speeds of today can be easily surpassed by their technology and are attempting to become the next big evolution of mass transit. According to The Verge, their system uses maglev technology, but because the cars are loaded into a nearly airless tube, they are subject to even less friction.

Their estimates suppose that the cars could reach a theoretical top speed of 750 mph, but so far tests have only proven that they can reach 70 mph. If they can achieve their goals, commute times along popular routes could be cut drastically as the speeds would outpace most aircraft.

Although critics claim that infrastructure costs and hurdles would be insurmountable to it gaining traction, it is still a promising new source of travel technology.