Olympia 2040: Hyperloop should connect Hamburg with Kiel at lightning speed!

Olympia 2040: Hyperloop should connect Hamburg with Kiel at lightning speed!

A major sporting project is currently being worked on in northern Germany. Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein have joined forces to bring a bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games to the center of public discussion. These ambitions were confirmed during a joint cabinet meeting in Kiel by Hamburg's First Mayor Peter Tschentscher (SPD) and Schleswig-Holstein's Prime Minister Daniel Günther (CDU). The sensational idea of ​​building a hyperloop route between Kiel and Hamburg also came into play.

In the future, Hyperloop technology could transport travelers in almost airless capsules at speeds of up to 700 km/h. The concept, which can be experienced up close, shows a lot of potential and is intended to be implemented as a private sector investment, which Tschentscher particularly emphasizes. The idea of ​​implementing such a route along the motorway could be realized without lengthy planning approval procedures. A look towards the future - the feasible implementation could be demonstrated as an example in Hamburg and fit into the Olympic plan, like that World reported.

Joint efforts for the Olympics

The disappointing experiences of past Olympic bids do not seem to deter the state government. “With the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the north, we can enhance the region,” says Günther, showing that there is great social support. Those too FINCH makes it clear that the preparations by the SPD and the Greens in Hamburg started rolling at the end of June 2023. A referendum on the Olympic bid is scheduled to take place in May 2024 so that the citizens of the Hanseatic city can cast their vote.

But the project goes beyond sport. The closer cooperation between the two countries is also intended to strengthen civil defense. In this context, Günther is first calling for a financial injection of ten billion euros for civil protection, followed by a further 20 billion. This is firmly linked to the new operational plan presented in March 2024, which provides for improved networking between security authorities and civil protection.

Technological challenges and opportunities

The technology behind the Hyperloop is fascinating: magnetic coils drive the capsules, while the negative pressure in the tube minimizes air resistance and friction. Additionally, Hyperloop trains emit no noise, and an impressive 90% of the energy can be recovered during braking. Walter Neu from the Institute for Hyperloop Technology sees the project very positively, although some challenges remain, such as practical integration into existing traffic and safety during operation.

Despite this progress, an air of skepticism remains. The Hamburg Left expresses reservations about the rapid political support and questions the integration of the technology into the existing traffic level. Nevertheless, the Hyperloop route between Hamburg and Kiel, which is planned for the 2030s, could become an eye-catcher for future Olympic Games. The fact that Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein are relying on dynamic innovation could not only revolutionize public transport, but also make the sporting highlight visible for the northern federal states, such as the taz finally summarized.