Hyperloop One is a system which pushes pods “on a cushion of air” through a tunnel at speeds in excess of 500mph.
Billionaire Elon Musk, who first put forward the Hyperloop concept in 2013, described the revolutionary transport as “a cross between a Concorde, a railgun and an air hockey table”.
At its fastest, engineers reckon it could reach 760mph, which would see journeys from London to Edinburgh slashed to half an hour.
Now a selection of British teams will gather in Amsterdam to speak to Hyperloop One executives and explain why they would like to see Hyperloop on routes starting in their town.
The LA-based technology giant has invited nations to become the next city to host the train.
Proposals were submitted by teams of private investors and university academics, who will work with Hyperloop One to make the dream a reality if their route is chosen.
British semi-finalists include a team pushing for a route between Glasgow and Cardiff which cuts a journey that normally takes six hours to under 45 minutes.
Another hopes they will win a route between Glasgow and Liverpool. The three-and-a-half hour journey would take less than 27 minutes using Hyperloop One.
Another team is putting forward designs for a route between London to Edinburgh, which would take around 51 minutes (but could be shaved to half an hour if the train reaches its 760mph goal).
The four local teams hoping to bring the Hyperloop One to their region could see superfast train speeds based on travel at 500mph
The journey typically takes four hours by train.
Last, but by no means least, a team from Liverpool is also bidding for a quickfire journey to Hull which could take just 15 minutes.
Edinburgh University is behind the London to Scotland route.
There are semifinalists in 17 countries, representing every continent except Antarctica.
The US has 11 teams left, India 5 and the UK four.
But British competitors will have to wait to hear whether they have made the final cut.
The European teams, along with Hyperloop One executives and Isabel Dedring, former Mayor of London’s deputy mayor for transport will meet on June 6 in Amsterdam to learn their fate.
It's not clear when the winner would begin to construct the new tunnel, but Hyperloop claims it will cover all technology costs.
Dubai appears to be streets ahead and has announced a deal to bring Hyperloop One to the Persian Gulf.
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