When does a tunnel become a hyperloop

[thegruf]

rather than driving the car onto a tray that is lowered into a tunnel, why not drive into a sealable (glazed?) pod and lower that into a tunnel entrance with airlocks to transfer into a reduced pressure tunnel. Not talking vacuum, but tunnels are very inefficient for air resistance so dropping the air pressure to say that at the top of a very high mountain (ie just breathable for safety) could do wonders for efficiency. Sort of hyperloop on the cheap with amazing flexibility. Not inconceivable pods could carry pedestrians too ...

just thinking aloud .. Hi Elon

 

[SwTslaGrl]

I think it's about the tunnel distance between "stations", on/off ramps etc. The Hyperloop uses much higher speed over longer distances. The maglev track from the Hyperloop could be useful for the tunnel though, to reduce maintenance and increase reliability.

 

[sdorn]

Listen to the recent Elon Ted Talk. He actually explains that the tunnels they are building could effectively be used as hyperloop tunnels since tunnel walls have to be strong enough to withstand 5 atmospheres of pressure for purposes of preventing ground water penetration, so they are way stronger than necessary to hold vacuum.

 

[TheTalkingMule]

Tunnels are a simpler way to construct living space on Mars.

 

[bxr140]

Tunnels are a simpler way to construct living space on Mars.

And safer for long term living.

Potentially easier to maintain temperature, definitely easier to maintain pressure/O2, definitely less radiation dosage, definitely less potential for force majure damage.

 

[voyager]

What about shifting tectonic plates? California practically 'invented' them.

 

[jelloslug]

What about shifting tectonic plates? California practically 'invented' them.

To make it excessively simple: Don't build them over fault lines.

 

[voyager]

To make it excessively simple: Don't build them over fault lines.

... or earthquakes in general...