Hyperloop firm, Arrivo to bring its version of high-speed transit to Denver

Brogan BamBrogan, chief of a hyperloop company, called Arrivo, which is separate from Richard Branson's Virgin Hyperloop One or Musk's Boring Company is partnering with the Colorado Department of Transportation and one of the state's major highways, E-470, to bring its version of the high-speed transit system to the region.

''What we're focused on is connecting regions to themselves,'' BamBrogan told Fortune over the phone yesterday. It's the main doctrine of Arrivo's take on the hyperloop: a ''super regional network'' that is focused on cities and their surrounding suburbs rather than long-distance journeys championed by companies like Virgin Hyperloop One, still the only hyperloop startup to build an operational test track.

According to the Los Angeles based company, construction for the hyperloop is set to get underway in 2019, with the first commercial leg of its system from the Denver International Airport to the Aurora Commerce Center completed as early as 2021. The leg is the first step to building the company's ''Denver Super Urban Network,'' which, according to Arrivo says will cut rush hour travel time from the Denver Airport to Downtown Denver from 55 minutes to just nine.

According to commentators, the emphasis on regional networks rather than a nationwide system is the reason why Arrivo is promising speeds of only 200 mph as against the near-700 mph pods Virgin Hyperloop One pledges to create.

Arrivo, Italian for "arrival," was co-founded earlier by BamBrogan, who was at one time the chief technology officer at Hyperloop One. BamBrogan quit Hyperloop One in July 2016 and filed a lawsuit accusing company executives of defamation, breach of fiduciary duty and assault, in which a noose was placed around his chair (See: Hyperloop One files $250 million countersuit against BamBrogan). 

After the settlement of the lawsuit in November 2016 for an undisclosed amount (See: Hyperloop One settles lawsuit brought by BamBrogan and three other employees) now BamBrogan is focused on building a $15-million test centre and test track in the Denver Metro area.

"Passengers and cargo arrive quickly and efficiently at extremely low cost," BamBrogan said in a statement that likened the system to the one being built by his former company. "Arrivo will end traffic and futureproof regional mobility."