Swisspod achieves world hyperloop speed record at its Colorado test facility

EPFL spin-off Swisspod achieved a global hyperloop speed record in Colorado, marking a major step toward scalable, low-emission high-speed transport.

Hyperloop developer Swisspod has reached a new milestone in the advancement of high-speed, low-emission transportation, achieving a world record speed during its second U.S. Hyperloop Day in Pueblo, Colorado. The company successfully operated its first hyperloop capsule model, Aerys 1, on what is now the world’s largest active hyperloop test track.

During a live demonstration attended by more than 150 industry partners and public officials, Swisspod reached a speed of 65 mph (102 km/h) on its 520-meter (1,700-foot) track, the highest velocity achieved to date by any active hyperloop developer. The test took place at the PuebloPlex campus, where Swisspod is building a closed-loop system that will eventually extend one mile around a 43-acre site, roughly the size of 25 football fields.

The event brought together senior U.S. representatives, including Colorado Senator Michael Bennet, Pueblo Mayor Heather Graham, and Drew Feeley, Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). Each emphasized the significance of next-generation mobility solutions and Pueblo’s emerging role as a testing hub. “This is going to be an exciting focus of our economy for probably the next century,” said Senator Bennet in the company’s press release.

The Colorado facility is central to Swisspod’s iterative engineering roadmap. With a functional full-scale track, a capsule prototype, and ongoing subsystem tests, the company anticipates continued speed increases, extended test cycles and progressive track expansion. “We are demonstrating real hyperloop technology at the largest test track in the world,” said Swisspod CEO Denis Tudor. “Our system is fundamentally different: the infrastructure is passive, while the core technology is embedded in the capsule.”

A potential solution for future high-speed passenger and freight transport

Swisspod’s engineering approach aims to make hyperloop systems more affordable and scalable by minimizing complexity in the infrastructure. This design is intended to reduce construction cost, maintenance needs and long-term operational constraints.

The record-breaking test follows Swisspod’s USD 13 million seed round and builds on its earlier achievements, including the world’s longest hyperloop mission at its Swiss test site developed with EPFL and HEIG-VD. That demonstration, completed in 2024, replicated the equivalent of a 141-kilometer full-scale journey.

Hyperloop technology, based on autonomous capsules moving through low-pressure tubes with near-zero direct CO₂ emissions, is viewed as a potential solution for future high-speed passenger and freight transport.