Sputnik — Russia Working on Trains Faster Than Planes

Move over, Elon Musk. The Russians are coming! I'm sure the Chinese and Japanese are, too.

Russian researchers are working on high-speed transportation technologies similar to the Hyperloop system, Russian Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov said Friday.

Sounds like it is government funded.

Sputnik

Russia Working on Trains Faster Than Planes

AFP — Elon Musk’s Hyperloop high-speed transport crowdfunding site launches

How about matching federal funding at some percentage to cover R&D expenses? Alternative transport is a high priority, with the huge carbon footprint of air transport. Even those who hold that climate change is either not occurring or is not caused by humans, the health consequences of pollution are a significant externality that is not being figured into true carbon-based energy cost.

The Raw Story
Elon Musk’s Hyperloop high-speed transport crowdfunding site launches

Agence Presse-France