Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT) has signed an agreement to break ground on a European facility in Toulouse, France, at the site of the former Francazal air base. The first stages of construction will begin this year, and the company hopes to have the hyperloop technology itself in a fully functioning and marketable format within the next few years.

The California-based startup was founded in 2013 and signed the agreement with Jean-Luc Moudenc, Mayor of Toulouse and president of Toulouse Métropole, Carole Delga, president of the Occitania Region, and Pascal Mailhos, prefect of the Occitania Region. The transportation company was represented by Dirk Ahlborn and Bibop Gresta, CEO and chairman respectively.

“Toulouse is the nerve center of the European aerospace industry and global innovation, and it felt natural for us to have a presence here, alongside so many of our partners and colleagues,” stated Dirk Ahlborn, CEO of HTT. “We are very grateful indeed for the welcome extended to us by Toulouse Métropole, who received us with open arms.”

Since first being presented by Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk, hyperloop has become one of the premium models of future transport. Moving capsules with passive magnetic levitation through low pressure tubes at top speeds of 1,200km/h, hyperloop systems have the potential to revolutionise public transport in the next few years.

Perhaps most importantly, the decision by an American company to found their R&D centre in France could mean good things for those hoping hyperloop will be established in Western Europe. With much of the ongoing work, particularly from competitor Hyperloop One, occurring in the US and the Middle East, it is promising to see the technology gaining some ground on European soil.

As things currently stand, hyperloop technology has been proved successful in test environments but still has a way to go before you’ll be stepping into one of these superfast tubes to get to work.

A large part of making this a reality will be proving the viability of the technology to officials and industry members; transforming it into a marketable concept. With the establishment of HTT’s centre in mainland western Europe, we can be hopeful that demonstration will soon pay off.

HTT’s European centre will serve as a hub of research and development, comprising of a 1km full-scale testing track, a platform for sharing research with academics, a lab for related technologies and a demonstration centre to act as both showcase and tourism venue. The centre will benefit from the establish industry in the Toulouse region.

“By welcoming the HTT project to the region, Occitania / Pyrénées-Méditerranée once again confirms its status as a land of innovation, looking ahead to the future and to the challenges associated with sustainable transport solutions,” stated Carole Delga, president of the Occitania / Pyrénées-Méditerranée Region.

“This American company will make full use of our local business ecosystem, which is particularly effective and boasts an exceptional wealth of scientific savoir-faire in the fields of aerospace, on-board systems and mobility.”