Virgin Hyperloop names West Virginia as home to Hyperloop Certification Center

Credit: Virgin Hyperloop

After years of testing and developing hyperloop technology at their full-scale test site, Virgin Hyperloop has unveiled that West Virginia will be home to the Hyperloop Certification Center (HCC).

Founder of the Virgin Group, Sir Richard Branson, said: “Today is one of the most exciting days in Virgin Hyperloop’s history. The Hyperloop Certification Center is the start of the hyperloop journey for West Virginia, for the United States and for the world. We’re one step closer to making hyperloop travel a reality for people everywhere.”

Beyond progressing hyperloop on the regulatory and commercial fronts, the HCC will also create an entirely new ecosystem, creating thousands of new jobs across construction, manufacturing, operations and high-tech sectors.

John Chambers, former Executive Chairman and CEO of Cisco Systems and current founder and CEO of JC2 Ventures, said: “West Virginia is at a pivotal moment in time, and I believe that Virgin Hyperloop has made an extremely strong choice for the location of the new HCC. West Virginia was once the coal and chemical capital of the world, but it failed to disrupt itself and was left behind. Today, every company, country and state needs to have a digital mindset. West Virginia’s renewed focus on innovation to drive inclusive job creation and economic growth will be elevated and brought to life with the development of the HCC. I personally could not be more honored and excited to work with Virgin Hyperloop to bring this transformative technology to the masses.”

The HCC has received bicameral and bipartisan support at all levels of the government, at the local, state and federal level, including from Governor Jim Justice, Senator Joe Manchin, Senator Shelley Moore Capito, Representative Carol Miller, Representative Alex Mooney and Representative David B. McKinley.

Governor Jim Justice said: “Today is a fantastic day for the state of West Virginia, and I’d like to be the first to officially welcome the folks from Virgin Hyperloop to their new home. For years, I have been saying that West Virginia is the best kept secret on the East Coast, and it’s true. Just look at this announcement and all it will bring to our state – investment, jobs and tremendous growth. It’s a true honor and privilege to be selected as the site for the Hyperloop Certification Center and lead the nation in this next step forward for transportation. When we approached Virgin Hyperloop, I told them that we would do everything we could to bring this opportunity to West Virginia. We look forward to working with the Virgin Hyperloop team to create a lasting partnership for years to come.”

This announcement builds off of significant progress in the U.S. on the regulatory front. In July 2020, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary, Elaine L. Chao, and the Non-Traditional and Emerging Transportation Technology (NETT) Council unveiled the guidance document on a clear regulatory framework for hyperloop in the United States. This historic announcement not only provides a pathway for hyperloop regulation and deployment in the U.S., but also establishes hyperloop’s eligibility for federal funding for projects.

This federal momentum, combined with the advancements at the HCC, will pave the way for the certification of hyperloop systems in the U.S. and around the world – the first step towards commercial projects.

CEO of Virgin Hyperloop, Jay Walder, said: “Particularly as we look to emerge from the COVID-19 crisis, it’s clear that we need a 21st century solution that will propel us forward, allowing us to not just rebuild, but actually evolve. Hyperloop is that solution, and we look forward to working with our partners across the country – in places like West Virginia, Ohio, Texas, Missouri, Washington and North Carolina – to connect the country from coast to coast.”

Virgin Hyperloop aims to achieve safety certification by 2025, with commercial operations beginning in 2030.