What riding the Hyperloop will really be like: Virgin unveils its pod prototype that will carry passengers at speeds of up to 760mph between Abu Dhabi and Dubai in just 12 minutes

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Virgin has unveiled a stunning prototype of the pods that will carry passengers at speeds of up to 760mph (1,200 kmh) when it launches its Hyperloop service in Dubai.

Hyperloop's low friction design means that passengers will be able to travel the 87 miles (140 km) between the city and neighbouring Abu Dhabi in 12 minutes, a journey that takes around 90 minutes by car. 

The concept pods give a first glimpse of the luxurious conditions inside the futuristic transport vehicles, which could be launched as soon as 2020.

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Virgin has unveiled a stunning prototype of the pods that will carry passengers at speeds of up to 760mph (1,200 kmh) when it launches its Hyperloop service in Dubai. Hyperloop's low friction design means that passengers will be able to travel the 87 miles (140 km) between the city and neighbouring Abu Dhabi in 12 minutes, a journey that takes around 90 minutes by car

Dubai's Road Transport Authority (RTA), which wants 25 per cent of all journeys to be driverless by 2030, unveiled the hyperloop design at a ceremony in the city as part of its participation in the UAE's Innovation Month.

Virgin's Hyperloop One offshoot has invested in the multi-billion pound project and is working closely with Dubai's RTA.

Richard Branson also announced a similar project for Mumbai a few days ago.

The pods themselves boast deluxe interiors, leather seats and high definition screens for displaying information and entertainment. 

Each pod is designed to travel short and medium distances and can accommodate up to ten passengers.

Rob Lloyd, CEO of Virgin Hyperloop One said: 'The UAE and RTA were early supporters of our Hyperloop technology, so it is particularly exciting to be unveiling the Dubai Hyperloop pod with the RTA. 

'Our focus in 2018 would be continuing the close collaboration with RTA to progress to the next phase of the project. 

'Our aim would be to explore the viability of a wider UAE Hyperloop network.'

Hyperloop uses an electromagnetic propulsion system to accelerate levitating pods through a vacuum tube.

Virgin's Hyperloop One offshoot has invested in the multi-billion pound project and is working closely with Dubai's RTA. Each pod is designed to travel short and medium distances and can accommodate up to ten passengers

 Its concept pods give a first glimpse of the luxurious conditions inside the futuristic transport vehicles, which could be launched as soon as 2020

The pods boast deluxe interiors, leather seats and high definition screens for displaying information and entertainment. The service is expected to carry around 10,000 passengers per hour in both directions

This level of speed is achieved by reducing air pressure inside the tube to an equivalent measure experienced at 200,000 feet above sea level. 

The service is expected to carry around 10,000 passengers per hour in both directions.

In a written statement, His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, director general of the RTA, said: 'When introduced in future, the hyperloop technology will impact the town planning and the availability of parking spaces.

'It will revolutionise people mobility between various destinations in the city, logistical hubs like airports and ports, and shipping patterns. 

Hyperloop uses an electromagnetic propulsion system to accelerate levitating pods through a vacuum tube at speeds of up to 760 mph (1,200 kmh). This image shows the front of the pod, housed in a Hyperloop tunnel

This level of speed is achieved by reducing air pressure inside the tube to an equivalent measure experienced at 200,000 feet above sea level

Dubai's Road Transport Authority (RTA), which wants 25 per cent of all journeys to be driverless by 2030, unveiled the hyperloop design at a ceremony in the city as part of its participation in the UAE's Innovation Month

Richard Branson also announced a similar project for Mumbai a few days ago.  The system could later be expanded to link the UAE with neighbouring Gulf countries so that a trip between Dubai and Saudi capital Riyadh, which is currently two hours by plane, could be completed in under 50 minutes

'These pods, the first of their kind worldwide, have been designed to travel over short and medium distances on dedicated lanes.

'They can be coupled in 15 to 20 seconds or detached, depending on the destination of riders, in five seconds.

'They are fitted with cameras and electro-mechanical technologies to carry out the coupling and detaching processes, and this feature can be activated in-motion.'  

Dubai unveiled its first look at what travelling on a Hyperloop will really be like back in November 2016, in a series of concept images for the first commercial use of Elon Musk's radical transport system.

The futuristic city-state of Dubai announced a deal with Los Angeles-based Hyperloop One in November 2016, to study the potential for building a line linking it to the Emirati capital of Abu Dhabi. Artist's impression of the Hyperloop with Dubai in the background, pictured

They showed small levitating Hyperloop pods that hurtle through tunnels at 760 mph (1,220 km/h), and then drive on normal roads to complete journeys to and from luxurious stations.

This differs somewhat from the pods unveiled by Virgin in February 2018, which appear to be specific to the Hyperloop system. 

Dubai hosted a competition for designs related to the high-speed system first proposed by Tesla co-founder Elon Musk in 2013.

In 2016, the city announced a deal with Los Angeles-based Hyperloop One, to study the potential for building a line linking it to the Emirati capital of Abu Dhabi within the next five years.

The announcement of the deal took place atop the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, with the panorama view of the skyline of this futuristic city-state serving as both a backdrop and a sign of Dubai's desire to be the first to rush toward the future. 

The system could later be expanded to link the UAE with neighbouring Gulf countries so that a trip between Dubai and Saudi capital Riyadh, which is currently two hours by plane, could be completed in under 50 minutes. 

A spokesman from Hyperloop One told MailOnline at the time that the company planned to build the system within five years.

'Technology is evolving and transforming how we live, yet we lack real innovation in mass transportation and the current system has stagnated,' said Shervin Pishevar, Executive Chairman of Hyperloop One. 

'Hyperloop One is focused on transport that's far more efficient, fast and clean. It will change the dynamics of how we move goods and people.

Under the initial 2016 plans pods (artist's impression) would have been able to operate autonomously away from the pressurised tubes, meaning they could travel on regular roads

'Dubai makes perfect sense for Hyperloop One because this is the 21st century's global transport hub and its leaders understand that Hyperloop One is ushering in the next era of transportation.'

Hyperloop One is working with McKinsey & Co. and the Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) on a detailed feasibility study.

According to BIG, the design of the scheme is based on a study of 'how an urban and inter-city transport network should integrate with existing infrastructure.' 

They describe it as autonomous, point-to-point and able to vastly simplify the experience of 'getting from front-door to final destination.' 

The locations of the initial route in the UAE have been selected by passenger density and proximity to existing or planned transportation hubs. 

WHAT IS THE HYPERLOOP?

Hyperloop is a proposed method of travel that would transport people at roughly 700mph between distant locations.

It was unveiled by Elon Musk in 2013, who at the time said it could take passengers the 380 miles (610km) from LA to San Francisco in 30 minutes - half the time it takes a plane.

It is essentially a long tube that has had the air removed to create a vacuum. For safety reasons, Hyperloop tunnels need escape hatches in case of fire. 

The tube is suspended off the ground to protect against weather and earthquakes. 

There are now a number of firms vying to bring the technology to life, including Elon Musk himself, Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, and Virgin Hyperloop One.  

As several firms vie to create the first operational Hyperloop, Elon Musk’s vision of a radical transport system that could ferry passengers above land at 760 miles per hour continues to inch closer to reality

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The designers said that 'all of the portals have been designed as individual answers to different contexts, yet appear similar and easily recognizable.'

According to the designers, 'all elements of the travel experience are designed to increase convenience and reduce interruptions. 

The main objective of this design is to eliminate waiting from the passenger experience. 

The stations are called portals. All departure gates are immediately visible upon entering the portal, and a simple numbering system allows passengers to quickly identify them. 

Rob Lloyd, the CEO of Hyperloop One, left, shows a model to Emirati officials including Mattar al-Tayer, the director-general and chairman of Dubai's Roads & Transport Authority, third left, in Dubai

The pods are contained within a transporter, a pressure vessel attached to a chassis for levitation and propulsion that can accelerate the transporter to top speed.

Passengers board the next pod that is available, which moves onto a transporter to their final destination. 

The relatively small unit-size of the pods paired with a high arrival and departure-rate allows for on-demand travel.

Different interior environments and seating arrangements offer passengers a travel experience tailored to their needs, whether travelling solo or in groups, for business meetings or casual trips.'

The Hyperloop station design for the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building. Passengers board the next pod that is available, which moves onto a transporter to their final destination. The relatively small unit-size of the pods paired with a high arrival and departure-rate allows for on-demand travel

The pods are contained within a transporter, a pressure vessel attached to a chassis for levitation and propulsion that can accelerate the transporter to top speed. These two station designs will fit into the existing city infrastructure, according to their creators

The pods operate autonomously from the transporter, which means they are not limited to the portal area and can move on regular roads and pick up passengers at any point. 

At portals, pods are loaded onto the transporter and hyperjump to another portal, where they merge onto the street and drop passengers off at their final destination.

No financial terms were immediately discussed and the technology itself remains under testing. 

'This is an opportunity to help transform the UAE from a technology consumer to a technology creator, incubating expertise for a new global industry, in line with the UAE's Vision 2021,' Chairman of the RTA, His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, commented on the agreement.

There would be several stations throughout Dubai connecting the hyperloop system to Abu Dhabi. The main station there is pictured here

At portals, pods are loaded onto the transporter and hyperjump to another portal, where they merge onto the street and drop passengers off at their final destination

'With Hyperloop One, we will create a new means of transportation, keeping our region at the forefront of transportation technology and innovation.'

The deal announced in 2016 would see several stations throughout Dubai connecting the hyperloop system to Abu Dhabi.

The pods would then be able to carry passengers and cargo between the cities.

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How the tubes will work: Two two tubes will be used to allow trains to travel both ways on the system

Already, government-backed port operator DP World has signed an agreement with Hyperloop One to explore the feasibility of the using the technology at Dubai's sprawling, man-made Jebel Ali Port. 

'With Hyperloop One we have given form to a mobility ecosystem of pods and portals, where the waiting hall has vanished along with waiting itself,' said Bjarke Ingels, founder of BIG.

'Collective commuting with individual freedom at near supersonic speed. 

'We are heading for a future where our mental map of the city is completely reconfigured, as our habitual understanding of distance and proximity – time and space – is warped by this virgin form of travel.' 

Hyperloop One will work with McKinsey & Co. and the Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) on a detailed feasibility study

'The momentum is global and accelerating,' adds Hyperloop One CEO Rob Lloyd. 

'The world will see the test of the first full-scale Hyperloop system in early 2017 at our Test and Safety Site in Nevada and we will have multiple operational Hyperloop systems within five years.'  

In October 2016, Dubai hosted a competition to design a Hyperloop track.

In that 48-hour project, designers presented ideas for a possible track between Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central, Dubai International Airport and Fujairah International Airport. 

Under these plans, the Hyperloop trip of some 90 miles (145 km) over a mountain range would be 10 minutes or less, compared to the current hour and 20 minutes by road.

The hyperloop is essentially a long tube that has had the air removed to create a vacuum. The tube is suspended off the ground to protect against weather and earthquakes

The cost of building a line from LA to San Francisco has previously been estimated at $16 billion (£10 billion) - although critics say it would be nearer $100 billion (£65 billion)