Virgin Hyperloop picks West Virginia to test high-speed transport system

PArtist’s rendering of Virgin Hyperloop’s forthcoming certification centre and test track to be built in West Virginia, United States. — Virgin Hyperloop/Handout via Reuters

SEATTLE/WASHINGTON: Virgin Hyperloop has picked the US state of West Virginia to host a US$500mil (RM2.08bil) certification centre and test track for billionaire Richard Branson's super high-speed travel system, the company told Reuters.

The centre will be the first US regulatory proving ground for a hyperloop system designed to whisk floating pods packed with passengers and cargo through vacuum tubes at 600 miles (966km) an hour or faster.