Campaign:NHNE/Places/Sparks Hyperloop
A vacuum tunnel system mined into the planetoid Sparks in which mag-lev carriages are used to transport Passengers and Goods.
Description[edit]
Routes[edit]
Mainline Routes on the Sparks Hyperloop
The initial routes were designed with the specific intent of moving workers and minerals between mining sites in the planetoid's interior and the ports at the poles. Additional routes have been added for suburban developments near the two poles.
Generally, routes run at a given depth or run vertically. The deepest route is the "Polar-Core Line" also known as the "Red Route" which runs along a great circle of the planetoid to a depth of 20km. This could only be inaugurated for general passenger service after Sparks started using artificial gravity on the rolling stock as the entire route is (otherwise) effectively in near zero-G.
Tunnels and Infrastructure[edit]
The tunnels are 4.8m tall and 3.3m wide allowing the central portion to be used for cargo and the upper and lower sections to house drive equipment and life-support. The air in the passenger carriages is completely recycled at each station. Most of the tunnels are in vacuum so there is little running resistance. On the suburban lines, some tunnels and stations are run with full atmospheres - access to and from these sections being via air-locks capable of handling 4, 8 or 12 capsule trains.
Most stations have platforms 6m deep and allow the capsules to dock with an air-tight seal. Some busier routes run "Trains" of multiple capsules and the platforms are built to handle this.
Goods Depots allow the loading and unloading of good capsules. These goods stations have airlocks that allow the capsules to enter and leave - the depot areas themselves being pressurised.
Maintenance Depots are all pressurised and accessed from the main tracks by 12-Capsule air-locks.
Rolling Stock[edit]
The rolling stock has accelerations of just 0.3g, but this allows some impressive speeds to be built up between stations on longer stretches.
Passenger Carriages[edit]
12 dTon suburban carriage seating 33 and allowing at least 60 to stand. The carriages are provided with 24 hours of air in case of emergencies.
Goods Carriages[edit]
A goods carriage can hold a single 10 dTon cargo container or two 5dTon cargo containers.
Live-Goods Carriages[edit]
A live goods carriage can hold a single 10 dTon cargo container or two 5dTon cargo containers and is sealed and provided with life support for 24 hours.
Operation[edit]
The network is operated by the Sparks Board of Transport under the Board of Environmental Concerns