US company Hyperloop One has agreed a deal with Dubai to evaluate building a new 500mph train to Abu Dhabi, which would travel 150km in just 12 minutes.

For comparison, Birmingham is around 164km from London. A standard train journey between these two cities takes anywhere between 1 hour 25 minutes and two hours.

The new high-speed transport link between Dubai and Abu Dhabi would cut travel time between the two cities significantly. Dire traffic conditions long suffered by commuters between Dubai and Abu Dhabi typically entails a two-hour car journey.

The California-based firm signed the deal earlier this week with Dubai authorities in suitably flashy style at the top of the city-state's Burj Khalifa – the world's tallest building.

If the plans go ahead, this would be the first train of its kind in the world, using Hyperloop electromagnetic technology that allows pods without wheels to travel at high speed through low-pressure transit tubes. It is similar to Japan's maglev train, but will be able to reach a top speed of 750mph.

ultra-fast train　　　　超高速列車
reach a deal　　　　合意する、合意に至る
evaluate　　　　～を見積もる
high-speed transportation system　　　　高速輸送システム
Emirates　　　　首長国　→　アラブ首長国
apart　　　　離れて

150㌔を12分、ということは時速750㌔だ。すごい、外の景色などほとんど見えないのでは？