Company, Southern Colorado leaders celebrate hyperloop success in Pueblo

Colorado Springs, Colo. (KKTV) – The people at the company working to implement a hyperloop system in southern Colorado say they took a big step forward Friday.

It’s been a year since Swisspod began construction of the world’s largest Hyperloop test track at the Puebloplex, just north of Avondale in Pueblo County. A Hyperloop is a capsule or pod that flies inside a tube and travels at very high speeds.

“We’re now trying to find a way to make this technology into a product and change the future of transportation in the United States,” said Dennis Tudor, CEO and founder of Swisspod.

On Friday, the company brought together local and national leaders as well as other guests for an update on the progress of that work. Tudor said they have completed a third of their planned mile-long test track.

U.S. Senator Michael Bennet said, “When I look at something that’s going into the project that they’re building so far, it would be our local products, our local talent students, it’s a way to lift up the entire local economy.”

Guests included Bennett, as well as Pueblo Mayor Heather Graham and representatives of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

“We are very supportive of new and innovative technologies,” said Drew Feeley, deputy administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration. “There are a lot of issues with passenger rail in America right now and I think projects like this have the potential to really make a huge difference to travel in America.”

Bennett said Pueblo is the perfect location for a project like the Swisspod hyperloop track.

“We have a long tradition here of being able to work on new technology, and today in Colorado, we’re leading the world in space, we’re leading the world in aerospace, now we’ll lead the world in terrestrial transportation,” he said.

Swisspod also tested its system. You can watch the video of the test here:

Company officials said their vehicle reached 102 kilometers per hour (about 63.4 mph), a speed they said is a new record for a Hyperloop track. But he said they could do more, as the test used only 62 percent of available power.

Bennett said he wants the work out to continue in the Puebloplex.

“I think we need to continue to make sure that we can continue to work as partners with Pueblo and the company so that they’re able to build this to the fullest extent possible,” Bennett said.

“FRA protects, and we do development, and part of the development is discretionary grants,” Feeley said. “Hyperloop doesn’t have a lot of merit right now because it’s an emerging technology, but certainly we’re willing to look for ways to support a good, solid project that has the potential to help America travel.”

Swisspod officials told 11 News they expect the test track to be completed within the next two years.

Copyright 2025 KKTV. All rights reserved.