Virgin Hyperloop announces global HCC in West Virginia

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 -- Virgin Hyperloop has revealed the global Hyperloop Certification Center (HCC) will be located in the US state of West Virginia, after years of testing and developing hyperloop technology at its full-scale test site.

The HCC is a major milestone in the maturity and acceptance of hyperloop systems globally, according to a statement.

A testament to Virgin Hyperloop’s technology advancement, it will enable global regulatory bodies to work with US federal authorities to establish and set global safety and industry standards for the new hyperloop category, which can subsequently be adopted and re-applied in other geographies.

“Today is one of the most exciting days in Virgin Hyperloop’s history,” said Virgin Group Founder, Sir Richard Branson.

“We’re one step closer to making hyperloop travel a reality for people everywhere.”

In India, the Government of Maharashtra has deemed hyperloop a public infrastructure project and approved the Virgin Hyperloop-DP World Consortium as the Original Project Proponent for the Mumbai-Pune hyperloop project.

This global regulatory momentum, combined with the advancements at the HCC, will pave the way for the certification of hyperloop systems globally – the first step towards commercial projects, including in India, while having the first human testing of the technology take place in the United States.

Virgin Hyperloop aims to achieve safety certification by 2025, with commercial operations beginning in 2030.

-- BERNAMA