Swisspod partners with TTCI, a subsidiary of the Association of American Railroads (AAR), for the development and construction of its newest Hyperloop testing facility in Pueblo, Colorado. The initiative follows Swisspod’s launch of the first operational test track in Europe in July 2021. The company’s second facility will be built at PuebloPlex, an expansive and growing campus with a vision to enable sustainability, innovation, and long-term economic development.
Hyperloop is an ultra-high-speed ground transportation system for passenger and cargo. Hyperloop's sealed tubes and pressurized vehicles, called pods, move at very high speeds, dramatically reducing point-to-point destinations travel time with minimal environmental impact.
At this new facility, Swisspod will test and validate innovative technology patents underpinning its unique propulsion system and build a full-scale capsule and operational infrastructure for cargo transportation in collaboration with its trusted research partner, TTCI. This partnership advances Swisspod’s global expansion strategy, fueling its fast-paced growth in the key U.S. market, while augmenting significant research and testing capabilities. This strategy was pushed forward recently with the addition of Dr. Michael Horodniceanu, P.E., prominent leader in transportation, to Swisspod’s U.S. Board of Directors.
“We selected TTCI for its remarkable track record of leadership and success in the testing, development, and deployment of emerging transportation technologies. This new partnership will be vital to our market positioning, not only as pioneers of a highly efficient propulsion system but also as one of the most affordable Hyperloop infrastructure propositions in the world” — Denis Tudor, Co-founder & CEO of Swisspod.
TTCI will provide engineering insight, operational and test plan support in collaboration with Swisspod. Working together to develop and deploy the pioneering technology of Hyperloop, Swisspod and TTCI are bringing down the walls and building bridges between industry incumbents and emerging leaders, creating a historical shift that paves the way for transformative change in transportation technology.
“Our partnership with Swisspod is the first of many opportunities to extend our legacy as leaders in transportation research. Our team’s experience in performance testing and our capability to reduce the product development cycle is unmatched in North America” — Kari Gonzales, Acting CEO of TTCI.
This partnership is another example of TTCI’s commitment to its employees and the Pueblo, Colorado community. Earlier this year, TTCI announced a new partnership with the Pueblo Economic Development Corporation (PEDCO) that will enhance its role as a leading transportation research, testing, and training facility. By working with key Pueblo stakeholders, TTCI’s new first-in-class facilities will be capable of meeting the evolving needs of the transportation sector including research into Hyperloop technologies.
PuebloPlex provides the perfect combination of security and space to support Swisspod’s testing goals. The alignment between the PuebloPlex mission, Swisspod’s vision, and TTCI’s engineering prowess creates a formidable combination capable of advancing the technology.
“This is a very exciting moment for PuebloPlex and our community. Being able to leverage our vast and unique resources to the advantage of TTCI and their partnership with Swisspod is a significant step forward in the implementation of the PuebloPlex redevelopment plan. Pueblo has long been home to transportation research. The addition of the Swisspod Hyperloop testing facility truly marks the beginning of a new frontier” — Russell DeSalvo, President & CEO of PuebloPlex.
The development of this new testing facility and subsequent research is also a major step toward Southern Colorado’s vision of becoming a leader in developing and deploying life-changing transportation technology, built upon Pueblo’s strong history of supporting innovative companies.
“Pueblo and Southern Colorado have long been home to the foremost rail research in the nation. The partnership with Swisspod extends that legacy and solidifies our place as transportation innovators. Maintaining our thriving, future-forward research base is a top priority that pays countless dividends across our community” — Jeff Shaw, CEO of Pueblo Economic Development Corporation (PEDCO).