oSIST prEN 18154:2025

Hyperloop systems - Vocabulary and definition

This document provides a general view of the most relevant requirements to ensure safety, reliability, system automation, security, comfort, interoperability and operations of the hyperloop system used for the transport of passengers and goods.
This document will be the basis to set the general common requirements for the hyperloop system as a whole.

Hyperloop-Systeme - Begriffsdefinitionen

Dieses Dokument bietet Begriffe sowie Definitionen, die bei Normen für den Bereich Hyperloop benötigt werden.
Dieses Dokument wird als Basis für die Festlegung von allgemeinen Definitionen des Hyperloop-Systems als Ganzes gelten.

Systèmes Hyperloop - Vocabulaire et définitions

Le présent document fournit une nomenclature et des définitions indispensables aux normes traitant de l’Hyperloop.
Ce document servira de base à la définition du vocabulaire général destiné à l’ensemble du système Hyperloop.

Sistemi Hyperloop - Slovar in definicija

General Information

• Status: Not Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 30-Apr-2025
• ICS: 01.040.03 - Services. Company organization, management and quality. Administration. Transport. Sociology. (Vocabularies)
• ICS: 03.220.99 - Other forms of transport
• ICS: 45.020 - Railway engineering in general
• ICS: 55.020 - Packaging and distribution of goods in general
• Technical Committee: I11 - Imaginarni 11
• Current Stage: 4020 - Public enquire (PE) (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 26-Feb-2025
• Due Date: 16-Jul-2025
• Completion Date: 22-Apr-2025
• Ref Project: prEN 18154 - Hyperloop systems - Vocabulary and definition

Overview

prEN 18154 - Hyperloop systems: Vocabulary and definition (CEN draft, Feb 2025) establishes a common nomenclature for Hyperloop technology. Produced by CEN/CLC/JTC 20 (secretariat NEN), this draft vocabulary is intended as the foundational reference for subsequent hyperloop standards and regulatory work. The document groups terms and definitions into four areas: generic definitions, hyperloop‑specific definitions, hyperloop network definitions, and maintenance enabling systems. It is published in English/French/German and is distributed for enquiry (not yet a final European Standard).

Key topics and technical scope

The standard defines essential concepts used across design, operation and regulation of hyperloop systems, including:

• Safety and risk terms: emergency, hazard, risk, fail‑safe, safety management system.
• Operational environment: operational pressure (low‑pressure defined as < 100 kPa), operational environment control systems, low‑pressure (vacuum) systems.
• Vehicle and vehicle systems: vehicle coordinate system (X, Y, Z axes), centre of gravity, vehicle systems (doors, HVAC, communication, power).
• Motion and support systems: propulsion, levitation and levitation systems, guidance and guidance systems, drive/traction systems, braking and emergency braking.
• Infrastructure and network: tube, guideway, track, switch, stations, depots, nodes, corridors, core corridors, local links and loops.
• Power and communications: electric infrastructure, power supply, electric power transmission system, communication system.
• Maintenance and emergency access: maintenance pathway, maintenance access, escape pathways, gate valves, airdocks/airlocks.
• Interoperability and homologation: definitions for hyperloop interoperability and hyperloop homologation used to support cross‑supplier compatibility and regulatory approval.

The draft contains no normative references but points users to ISO and IEC terminology resources.

Practical applications and users

prEN 18154 is intended for anyone involved in the specification, design, certification or deployment of hyperloop systems:

• Standards writers and regulators - provide consistent terminology for future technical and safety standards and for homologation frameworks.
• System integrators and manufacturers - align design documentation, contracts and interface specifications.
• Operators and infrastructure owners - harmonize operational procedures, safety management and maintenance planning.
• Safety assessors, testing bodies and consultants - ensure consistent use of terms in risk assessments and verification activities.
• Policy makers and procurement teams - reference common definitions in tenders and legal frameworks.

Related resources

• CEN/CLC/JTC 20 work programme and draft status (Feb 2025).
• ISO Online Browsing Platform and IEC Electropedia for complementary terminology databases.

This vocabulary standard supports clear communication across stakeholders and is a critical first step toward safe, interoperable and certifiable hyperloop systems.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-april-2025
Sistemi Hyperloop - Slovar in definicija
Hyperloop systems - Vocabulary and definition
Hyperloop-Systeme - Begriffsdefinitionen
Systèmes Hyperloop - Vocabulaire et définitions
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 18154
ICS:
01.040.03 Storitve. Organizacija Services. Company
podjetja, vodenje in kakovost. organization, management
Uprava. Transport. and quality. Administration.
Sociologija. (Slovarji) Transport. Sociology.
(Vocabularies)
03.220.99 Druge oblike transporta Other forms of transport
55.020 Pakiranje in distribucija blaga Packaging and distribution of
na splošno goods in general
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD DRAFT
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
February 2025
ICS
English version
Hyperloop systems - Vocabulary and definition
Systèmes Hyperloop - Vocabulaire et définitions Hyperloop-Systeme - Begriffsdefinitionen
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/CLC/JTC 20.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, CEN and CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal
Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any
alteration.
This draft European Standard was established by CEN and CENELEC in three official versions (English, French, German). A
version in any other language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN and CENELEC member into its own language
and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN and CENELEC members are the national standards bodies and national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium,
Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,
Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and United Kingdom.

Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification
of any relevant patent rights of which they are aware and to provide supporting documentation.

Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre:
Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2025 CEN/CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means
Ref. No. prEN 18154:2025 E
reserved worldwide for CEN national Members and for
CENELEC Members.
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
3.1 Generic definitions . 5
3.2 Hyperloop specific definitions . 7
3.3 Hyperloop network definitions . 12
3.4 Maintenance enabling systems . 14
Bibliography . 15

European foreword
This document (prEN 18154:2025) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/CLC/JTC 20
“Hyperloop Systems”, the secretariat of which is held by NEN.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
Introduction
This document is the first vocabulary and definitions standard for Hyperloop technology. It may be
expanded or supplemented as Hyperloop technology progresses and develops.
As Hyperloop consists of many different systems, elements, parts, functions etc. that require a common
understanding by various stakeholders and developers, the definitions have been grouped in four main
categories:
— Generic definitions,
— Hyperloop specific definitions,
— Hyperloop Network definitions,
— Maintenance enabling systems.
1 Scope
This document provides a nomenclature and definitions needed for hyperloop related standards.
This document will be the basis for setting general vocabulary definitions for the hyperloop system as a
whole.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp/
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
3.1 Generic definitions
3.1.1
electric infrastructure
transformers, feeder lines, high voltage feeder lines, switches, and all other related electric facilities
3.1.2
emergency
situation in which the safety of the hyperloop system or of persons is endangered for any reason and
needs adequate response
[SOURCE: ICAO Basic Standards and Recommendations and Cambridge Dictionary]
3.1.3
fail-safe
capability of preserving safety in case of failure
[SOURCE: IEC 60050 (link: https://www.electropedia.org/iev/iev.nsf/display?openform&ievref=192-
10-06)]
3.1.4
failure
loss of ability to perform as required
[SOURCE: IEC 60050 (link: https://www.electropedia.org/iev/iev.nsf/display?openform&ievref=821-
11-19)]
3.1.5
hazard
condition resulting from failures, malfunctions, external events, errors, or a combination thereof or
object with the potential of causing injuries to persons and damage to the hyperloop system
[SOURCE: IEC ICAO SMM Doc 9859 and SAE ARP4761]
3.1.6
low pressure
pressure less than 100 kPa
[SOURCE: ISO 16149:2006, 3.7]
3.1.7
power electronics
electric energy converter which draws electric energy from a source and supplies it in a specified form
to a load
Note 1 to entry: Field of electronics which deals with the conversion or switching of electric power with or
without control of that power.
3.1.8
power supply
provision of electric energy from a source electric energy converter which draws electric energy from a
source and supplies it in a specified form to a load
3.1.9
risk
assessed potential for adverse consequences resulting from a hazard
Note 1 to entry: It is the likelihood that the hazard's potential to cause harm will be realised
[SOURCE: ICAO Doc 9859]
3.1.10
risk management
identification, analysis and elimination (and/or mitigation to an acceptable or tolerable level) of those
hazards, as well as the subsequent risks, that threaten the viability of an organisation and its operations
[SOURCE: ICAO Doc. 9859 with added “and its operations”]
3.1.11
safety
result of all actions taken to prevent accidents, errors or unintentional defects in the design,
construction, maintenance, and operation of a hyperloop or effects due to external actions on the
system
3.1.12
safety management system
systematic approach to managing safety, including the necessary organizational structures,
accountabilities, policies and procedures
[SOURCE: ICAO Doc. 9859 and ISO 21384-3:2023, 3.15]
3.1.13
services
transport services that the hyperloop system provides to passengers and cargo
3.2 Hyperloop specific definitions
3.2.1
hyperloop
mode of land transportation capable of high speed and driverless operations, in which a vehicle is
guided through a low-pressure tube or system of tubes for passengers and/or cargo
3.2.2
airdock
connection between the station and the vehicle cabin providing atmospheric pressure for payload
movement into and out of the vehicle
3.2.3
airlock
section of the tube for taking a vehicle from the operational environment to atmospheric environment
while maintaining the operational environment in the network
3.2.4
passenger platform
area for boarding and/or disembarking of passengers and their luggage to/from vehicles
3.2.5
cargo platform
area for loading and/or unloading cargo to/from vehicles
3.2.6
braking system
combination of parts which either progressively reduces the speed of the moving vehicle, or brings the
vehicle to a halt and/or holds it stationary, or fulfils both functions
[SOURCE: ISO 21995:2008, 3.1.1]
3.2.7
braking
ability to decelerate and stop the vehicle in a safe and controlled manner
3.2.8
parking position
state or location of the vehicle during an operational stop
3.2.9
centre of gravity
centre of Gravity of the vehicle, given in reference to the vehicle coordinate system (not constant)
3.2.10
centre of the vehicle (origin)
origin of the coordinate system of the vehicle. It is defined as the geometric centre of the vehicle.
3.2.11
communication system
system or combination of syst
...