11 Future Hyperloop Routes and Pilots That Could Shape Holiday Travel

3. European Hyperloop Centre (Groningen) testing precinct

The European Hyperloop Centre in Groningen has been a focal point for cross-company testing and incremental engineering validation. According to public reporting, the facility logged 750+ tests since opening in 2024 and hosted milestone runs, including lane-switching trials. Hardt Hyperloop’s lane-switching achievement reached around 53 miles per hour in a 2025 test, illustrating how complex maneuvers are progressing under controlled conditions. These shared test facilities are valuable because they let companies validate vacuum control, levitation systems, and emergency procedures without the expense of a full corridor build. For holiday travel implications, the centre’s role is mostly preparatory: it accelerates safe-system learning and reduces technical risk before city-to-city lines are proposed and funded. That work shortens the engineering timeline but cannot bypass public-sector approvals and the long lead times for right-of-way and station construction. Travelers should view Groningen and similar centers as essential R&D nodes that increase the odds of future passenger services, rather than signals that passenger hyperloop will be available for the 2026 holiday season.