PLANS for a high-speed train that will hurtle passengers between Madrid and Barcelona in just 30 minutes have been unveiled at a technology conference in Spain.

Hyperloop, the brainchild of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, will run at 1200km/hr, connecting the 620km distance between Madrid and Barcelona in just 30 minutes, half the time of a plane trip.

Using a vacuum-style technology, a low pressure steel tube will transport passengers in specially designed pods moving at near-sonic speeds using magnets and fans.

Plans for an eight kilometre test track in California have already been announced with Musk envisioning a train between San Francisco and Los Angeles that would also take just 30 minutes, down from the current six hour drive.

Just relocated our tubes into the new campus expansion. We are rolling in DTLA!!! pic.twitter.com/uboa5ApLfC — HyperloopTech (@HyperloopTech) September 9, 2015

According to thelocal.es, the CEO of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Dirk Ahlborn, said construction of the Hyperloop will begin next year.

“We already have the technology. We are currently working to get the necessary licenses and will begin construction next year, opening to the public in 2018 or 2019,” he said, with plans to transport more than 10 million passengers every year.

Musk has touted Hyperloop as the “fifth mode” of transport, that will be fast, safe and largely powered with electricity by its own solar panels.

Musk told CNN Money that the project was really not that difficult.

“I know there are various companies that are trying to create the Hyperloop, and honestly I think it is a lot easier than people think. Blueprints are always kind of complicated, and, yes, there is math, but it’s really not that hard.”