Not so friendly reminder that musk specifically came up with, and pushed, for hyperloop knowing that it would never be made, as an effort to stop the development of highspeed rail in America and shift all political discussions of it because “something better is around the corner”:

As I’ve written in my book, Musk admitted to his biographer Ashlee Vance that Hyperloop was all about trying to get legislators to cancel plans for high-speed rail in California—even though he had no plans to build it. Several years ago, Musk said that public transit was “a pain in the ass” where you were surrounded by strangers, including possible serial killers, to justify his opposition.

source: new york times

Also: 2024 update, the total length of China’s high-speed rail tracks has now reached well over 45,000 km, or 28,000 miles, by the end of 2023.

They are additionally five years ahead of schedule and expect to double the total number within ten years. And, before someone inevitably complains about “how expensive it is”, they are turning over a net-profit of over $600M USD a year.

Via

  • dejected_warp_core@lemmy.worldEnglish
    25·
    2 months ago

    In hindsight, CA lawmakers should have known not to trust the guy that owns a car company, when taking advice to shut down a massive public transportation project.

      • Cryophilia@lemmy.worldEnglish
        91·
        2 months ago

        They literally did not. California never listened to Musk, and CA HSR is still under construction. Only tech bros ever cared about the hyperloop.

        • Optional@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
          7·
          2 months ago

          In the end, Musk failed to derail California’s visionary shift toward a balanced, electrified transportation system with high-speed rail as its backbone, along with electric vehicles, local transit and walkable, bike-friendly communities.

          In June, [of 2022, nine years after Musk’s hyperloop lie] the California Legislature approved a $4.2 billion appropriation to help complete the project’s first operating segment, along with another $7.65 billion for rail transit. The California High-Speed Rail Authority continues to pursue federal funding to advance the project. Voter support for high-speed rail remains strong.