KANSAS CITY (KMBZ) — People in Kansas City will get a look at a vehicle that reportedly will be able to transport people across the state of Missouri to St. Louis in about 30 minutes.
Media members are getting a sneak peek at the Virgin Hyperloop Friday afternoon at the Kansas Speedway, site of the 40th American Royal World Series of Barbecue. The XP-1 pod will also be available for viewing by the general public on Saturday.
The hyperloop would transport passengers using magnetic energy that would both propel and support the weight of the pod. A superfast connection between Kansas City and St. Louis would be a huge game-changer, said Ryan Weber, president of the KC Tech Council, one of the sponsors of the demonstration.
"You really could be talking about a mega-region from a workforce standpoint," Weber said. "It's hard to think about what that would look like, or what that experience would be like. It certainly would be possible with this technology."
The pods could reach speeds of 700 miles per hour. Weber thinks if all the tumblers click into place, a Missouri hyperloop could be implemented in seven years.