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Swissmetro was a futuristic Swiss national transportation project using vactrain technology. It was put forward by Marcel Jufer of the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.
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The trains would have significantly lowered the travel time between major cities in Switzerland. For example, the time between Bern and Zurich could be reduced from the present 60 minutes by intercity train to a mere 12 minutes.
Liquiditation of initial concept
It went into liquidation in November 2009 because of a lack of support. Based on high-speed maglev trains travelling in low-pressure tunnels (approximately 100 millibar) the speeds would have been about 500 kilometres per hour.
Although conclusive simulation tests have been done by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), the project is not likely to be restarted in the near future. Reports differed on the question of economic viability.
Metroplane
A modified version of the initial concept has been created by Marcel Jufer, and has is being promoted by entrepreneur Gérard Delruelle, who intends to make a first metroplane line between Brussels and Strasbourg.