Elon Musk’s Boring Company has secured a contract with the city of Chicago, US, to develop a transportation link to the city’s airport.
The new Chicago Express Loop will connect downtown Chicago with O’Hare International Airport.
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Once operational, the train will carry passengers in battery-powered vehicles through tunnels.
Operating at a speed of up to 150 miles per hour, the Chicago Express Loop will have a journey time of 12 minutes, which is three to four times faster than the present transportation options serving the airport.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said: “Bringing Chicago’s economic engines closer together will keep the city on the cutting edge of progress, create thousands of good-paying jobs and strengthen our great city for future generations.
“This transformative project will help Chicago write the next chapter in our legacy of innovation and invention.”
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By GlobalDataConstruction costs and time have not been disclosed, though concerns have been raised by experts over the financial feasibility of Loop transportation systems, as well as the potential challenges they could raise from an environmental and legal point of view.
This project is expected to be 100% privately funded. Boring Company will ‘design, build, finance, operate and maintain’ the Loop transportation system.
The firm is currently working on a similar Loop transportation system in Los Angeles.
The planned transportation system will feature electric skates, which are vehicles based on Tesla’s Model X SUV capable of carrying eight to 16 passengers.
The electric skates will be confined to a concrete track within the tunnel and operate as per the safety requirements of the federal and state bodies.
