Madrid to Tangiers in an hour on Hyperloop inter-continental bullet-train

AN AMBITIOUS and futuristic rail project which has reached the semi-final of a global competition could involve being able to travel by train from Madrid to Tangiers in the north of Morocco in under an hour.

The first-ever transport plan linking continental Europe and Africa by land, according to organisers of the Hyperloop One Global Challenge, the high-speed bullet-train would travel at 1,200 kilometres per hour, crossing the Strait of Gibraltar through a Channel Tunnel type of structure, albeit a floating one.

The competition has so far seen 2,600 entries by 35 teams from all over the planet, meaning the Hyperloop to Morocco has hugely impressed the judges so far to have reached the semi-finals.

A Hyperloop is a type of 'capsule' train in which passengers are half-lying down, and which is capable to covering distances at the same speed as an aircraft.

The 25 members of the project team who designed the Madrid-Tangiers inter-continental rail link have a diverse collection of degrees and other qualifications between them, and have carried out work experience in some of Spain's largest firms including the Elizabeth II Canal, Airbus Group, Telefónica, Endesa and Repsol.

Whether or not the train between two continents makes the final will not be known until May this year.

The next step is for the Hyperloop One team to assess the 35 projects that have reached the semi-finals in order to recommend improvements, and the best ones will be picked for the next stage.