Hyperloop Would Forever Change the Toronto-Montreal Corridor

The Toronto-Montreal corridor would be forever changed should the route be selected for a hyperloop transportation system, a new technology that it's said could cut surface travel time between the cities from five hours to just 39 minutes.

The Toronto-Montreal route was the only Canadian winner in a worldwide competition to narrow down possible cities where Hyperloop One, an LA-based company might consider building the new transportation system.

Hyperloop is a new technology that uses electro-magnetic technology to propel both passengers and cargo through a tube at four times the speed of high-speed rail.

Hyperloop One held a global competition last year and has narrowed down the finalists to 10 possible routes around the world; Toronto-Montreal, four routes in the US, two routes in India, two routes in the UK, and one route in Mexico. The company will now work with each of the finalists to conduct further analysis on their proposals and determine commercial viability.

"The results of the Hyperloop One Global Challenge far exceeded our expectations," read a statement from Rob Lloyd, CEO of Hyperloop One "We had tremendous interest in this competition, and these ten teams each had their unique strengths in showcasing how they will alleviate serious transportation issues in their regions."

In the case of Toronto-Montreal, the proposed route would also include Ottawa, so travel time from Toronto to Montreal would be 39 minutes, Toronto to Ottawa, 27 minutes, and Ottawa to Montreal a mere 12 minutes, making it technically possible, although likely too expensive, to commute daily between the three cities

Hyperloop One said that the proposed route would "create a Canadian mega region with as much as a quarter of the country's population."

So what would this mean for those currently providing transportation options in the Toronto-Montreal-Ottawa triangle? That likely depends on the provider and the type of travel.

For point-to-point travel between the cities, Hyperloop One would be the clear winner, provided it's not too costly. But for those travelling from Toronto to Brockville, or Montreal to Kingston, they would still need to rely on other surface transportation options like VIA Rail, which provides multiple stops between the cities.

And what about the airlines who operate these routes with great frequency, like Air Canada, Porter Airlines or WestJet? You'd think this could be the death knell for airlines on the route, but that's not necessarily the case. The airlines and airports would certainly need to up their game to compete with this new transportation technology, including continuing to improve the airport experience and keep prices low. And of course, those connecting onto other flights like transatlantic flights, would likely continue to fly between the cities to catch their onward flight.

Transportation expert Martin Collier told the Globe and Mail that there's no way he's going to be among the first to buy a ticket.

"I think I'll be watching - if I'm still alive when it hits the ground and is ready to go," the founder of Transport Futures, which promotes education about transportation issues, told the Globe and Mail on Friday.

VIDEO: This short video explains the concept and technology behind Hyperloop.

Hyperloop technology is promoted by forward-thinking X.com (Now PayPal) and Tesla founder, Elon Musk, and Los Angeles-based company Hyperloop One, already has a working hyperloop test system in the Nevada desert.

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