Hyperloop Transport System reminds...
 

Not a technical contribution but...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZu6tcvl6vE

...from his first, funny & hesitant reveal. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qox_m6jyfmA

...yep, the "old" pneumatic "inter-office/building" mail tube systems of 1940-1950's...and last used by banks to move paper/money between tellers inside the building and the outside drive-up stations.

And the real question is... Why?

Why?
 

Elon Musk has the insight and engineering design resources to really make concepts really happen. His automotive and aerospace ventures have proven to be viable and built at reasonable costs. A different take from this concept, I see it as a parallel engineering project to ridicule the high speed rail project in California. It will serve to illustrate the comparative ab$urdity of the California high-speed rail costs. The estimated cost per mile ranges from $25-$50 million per mile...with NO travel demand from the public! It will be the largest spending debacle in our state history.

Why ET3? | Evacuated Tube Transport Technologies

The untimate configuration, 50 times more efficient than any electric powered vehicle.

I see the Musk idea as interim transportation. Drive your electric car to the terminal. Use the Musk configuration for shorter deitances, say up to 150 miles, the use et3 for coast to coast and international movement.

regards
Mech

They actually built a pneumatic subway under New York City in the 1860's.

Beach Pneumatic Transit - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Don't know about that, but it's all a different issue. The problem is that the faster you make the station-to-station part of the trip, the more your total travel time is dominated by getting to & from the stations, boarding, security, etc. Even if you could make the actual trip at the speed of light, it's still likely to take several hours for the door-to-door journey.

I think botsapper nailed it. He is mocking their proposal for the world's slowest and most expensive bullet train.