[biguc]

That cost included buying land in California and building it on pylons. Both expenses don't exist in Western Canada. And we don't have earthquakes, which eliminates the biggest objection to Musk's estimate.

One major advantage I see to Hyperloop over high speed rail or any other kind of transportation is that it would create demand. I have next to no reason to go to Regina or Thompson, but put any place 30 minutes away and you turn the question 'why?' into 'why not?'. And even at ten dollar fares a single tube between Winnipeg and Regina could bounce a single car back and forth and generate a few million in revenues a year, which would be more than enough to cover operating expenses.

Imagine what a boon it would be for tourism too, if travelling between cities in Western Canada didn't mean a day's travel. Or if a trip to Churchill didn't involve a 48 hr train ride, but a Hyperloop blast to Thompson and a far shorter train trip from there.