Co-funded by the
European Union
Coalition of Dutch governments and companies explores hyperloop solution for countries busiest freight corridor
EIT InnoEnergy supported Hardt is involved, as part of the Hyperloop Development Program,
in the exploration of opportunities for using hyperloop for freight transport.
A pilot route that would constitute a first step in creating a pan-European emission-free
hyperloop network is being investigated in the largest urban area of The Netherlands between
Rotterdam and Amsterdam. The preconditions and effects of a hyperloop connection for cargo
between important and volume-intensive hubs in the provinces of Noord and Zuid-Holland are
being researched by an extensive coalition of (inter) national companies, governments and
network organizations, as was laid down in a covenant earlier this week. The aim is for the study
to identify similar challenges and provide solutions facing urban areas elsewhere in Europe,
thereby paving the way for investment in hyperloop infrastructure across the entire continent.
Such a network would make it possible to send goods across Europe in hours rather than days,
while a global network would cut transport times to just days.
The parties participating in this study are part of, or involved in The Netherlands’ largest export
industries. The focus is on the busiest domestic/National freight corridor between the cities of Rotterdam
and Amsterdam. Connecting producers, traders, buyers and logistics nodes on this corridor with a
hyperloop, offers the potential to drastically reduce transport with existing modalities and significantly
increase the speed and reliability of delivery. This would mean a gross reduction in maintenance costs
for existing infrastructure and would alleviate the congestion problem. Also, a significant improvement
of the air quality in the heavily populated area could be achieved, by reducing CO2 emissions. The
latter would be a major step for the transport sector in achieving its ambitions towards achieving the
climate agreement goals.
Walther Ploos van Amstel, economist and Lector City Logistics at the University of Applies Science of
Amsterdam: “The hyperloop is a ’gamechanger’ for transport, like the container in the 60s of the last
century. The competitiveness of regions is going to change. The Netherlands, as the logistics main port
of Europe, must capitalize on it now.”
A first commercial hyperloop application
The active involvement of these parties is done under the banner of the Hyperloop Development
Program (HDP), a public-private partnership for the development of hyperloop announced in late 2020.
The HDP is financially backed by the Dutch national government and focusses on developing
hyperloop, as a new sustainable mode of transport, for both passengers and cargo. Identifying and
exploring the potential of the first cargo routes is first of its many activities. A cargo hyperloop system
requires a smaller-scale infrastructure than the passenger system and will soon be tested at the
European Hyperloop Center in the Dutch province of Groningen. After completion of these tests the
system is ready for commercial operations.
A cargo-hyperloop can offer major advantages for the fresh produce industry, which accounts for a
significant part of Dutch exports. “This collaboration is an important step in the development of this new
modality for goods, with which we will be able to deliver faster and at higher capacity, at lower cost. We
can move goods at a speed that is very competitive with trucks, with more frequent and smaller
shipments. Because the system operates autonomously and integrally, the capacity can be adjusted
on-demand with platooning”, says Rik Roeske, project leader of the cargo hyperloop, “of course, this
does not only apply to Dutch industry. Many other markets, such as e-commerce and pharma
worldwide, also benefit from the hyperloop.”
Joint feasibility study
The study will touch upon topics such as product requirements, integration, socio-economic costs and
benefits and operations and maintenance and the decision-making process for possible next steps and
will be be completed by mid-2022. The participating parties all bring in valuable experience, knowledge,
and data, necessary to assess the feasibility of a hyperloop system for cargo.
Signatory parties are: Agora Flores Holland, Air Cargo Netherlands, Amsterdam Airport Area,
Amsterdam Logistics, APMT (Maersk), Baas, Berg Roses, ABC Logistics (Best Fresh), De Wintertuin,
Dümmen Orange, Dutch Flower Group, Europool Systems, evofenedex, municipality of
Haarlemmermeer, municipality of Rotterdam, municipality of Westland, Greenport Duin- en
Bollenstreek, The Greenery, GroentEnFruithuis, InnovationQuarter, Port of Amsterdam, Dutch Province
of Noord-Holland, Dutch Province of Zuid-Holland, SADC, Royal Schiphol Group, TLN.
