METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Virgin Hyperloop One taps former NY MTA chief Walder as CEO

Company focus begins with implementation of the world’s first hyperloop system running from Pune to Mumbai in India.

November 9, 2018
Virgin Hyperloop One taps former NY MTA chief Walder as CEO

Virgin Hyperloop One is focusing on a major current project in India. Photo: Virgin Hyperloop One

2 min to read


Virgin Hyperloop One is focusing on a major current project in India. Photo: Virgin Hyperloop One

Virgin Hyperloop One, developers of a full-scale hyperloop system, announced that Jay Walder has been appointed as its new CEO. Walder will also join the company’s Board of Directors. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, group chairman and CEO of DP World, has been elected as its new chairman.

The selection of a new senior management team will allow Virgin Hyperloop One to transition its focus from technology startup to mass transportation company beginning with implementation of the world’s first hyperloop system running from Pune to Mumbai. The announcement follows the recent announcement of a new round of funding.

Ad Loading...

Walder has served as chairman and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York, CEO of the MTR Corp. in Hong Kong, and managing director at Transport for London. Most recently he ran Motivate, a leader in bike share, before its sale to Lyft. Walder was also a Partner at McKinsey, where he led the Global Infrastructure Practice for the consulting firm.

“I have focused my career on using technology to advance innovation in transportation, so I could not pass up the opportunity to lead the company that has pioneered hyperloop,” said Walder.

Bin Sulayem has over three decades of experience across a wide range of industries. Following the recent financing, DP World will become Virgin Hyperloop One’s largest investor.

The company is focusing on a major current project in India, where the government has recently declared the Pune-Mumbai hyperloop project as a public infrastructure project with international consortium DP World and Virgin Hyperloop One as the original project proponent. If the government ultimately awards it a concession for the project, the company expects to start constructions on the seven-mile test loop in 2019. When completed, hyperloop can reduce the travel time between Mumbai and Pune from about four hours to 25 minutes.

Sultan bin Sulayem replaces Sir Richard Branson, who stepped down last month, while Walder will replace Rob Lloyd, who served as CEO for more than three years and leaves after successfully guiding the company through its largest expansion including creating the first and only hyperloop system, a pipeline of projects globally, and raising substantial funding. During this time, the company has grown and positioned itself as the frontrunner in the hyperloop space. Sir Richard’s board seat will be taken by Virgin’s Patrick McCall.

More Technology

Luminator Charts a New Digital Path
Technologyby Alex RomanSeptember 14, 2026

From Hardware to Digital Partner: Luminator Charts Its Next Chapter

CEO Magnus Friberg discusses Luminator’s shift toward becoming a digital partner, the growing importance of software and interoperability, and how AI can help agencies improve operations and passenger experience.

Read More →
From Checklists to Better Outcomes
TechnologySeptember 11, 2026

Beyond the Checklist: A Structured Approach to Transit Maintenance

Reliability-Centered Maintenance helps transit agencies move beyond routine checklists to focus limited resources on the assets and failures that have the greatest impact on safety, reliability, and service.

Read More →
An NJ TRANSIT bus.
Technologyby StaffSeptember 11, 2026

NJ TRANSIT Advances Bus Technology Upgrades Across Statewide Fleet

More than 1,500 buses now feature upgraded technology designed to improve arrival predictions and provide free Wi-Fi, with deployment expected to reach nearly 2,000 buses by the end of 2026.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
How BAE Systems Electrifies Transit Fleets
Zero Emissionsby Alex RomanSeptember 10, 2026

Building a Flexible Path to Transit Electrification

John Hroncich discusses BAE Systems’ modular and scalable approach, lessons learned from decades of real-world operations, and how agencies can identify electrification strategies that fit their fleets.

Read More →
Rendering of an Alstom train in a VIA Rail Station
Technologyby Alex RomanSeptember 10, 2026

Biz Briefs: Alstom Lands Canadian Contract, LYT to Supply California TSP, and More

In METRO's latest installment, we take a look at recent news from Complete Coach Works, Beep, FlixBus, and more partnerships making headlines across the transportation sector.

Read More →
A computer-generated illustration of a transit bus outlined in blue on a black background with random red spots and blue spots.
SponsoredSeptember 8, 2026

From Legacy Silos to Conversational Intelligence

What if transit leaders could ask any operational question and get a trusted answer in seconds? Conversational AI is transforming how agencies use their data.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Federal Funding Advances rail and autonomous vehicles
Technologyby Alex RomanSeptember 4, 2026

USDOT Announces Rail Vehicle Replacement Grants, Chattanooga AV Shuttle Funding

More than $191 million in federal funding will help three transit agencies replace aging rail vehicles and support a new autonomous shuttle service in Chattanooga.

Read More →
Bus Tech Talk: Transit Tech Training...What's Changed?
Busby Alex RomanSeptember 4, 2026

Bus Tech Talk: Keeping Transit Technicians Ahead of the Technology Curve

LA Metro’s Obed Mejia discusses technician training, evolving maintenance technology, fleet replacement, and strategies for getting the most out of today’s transit fleets.

Read More →
RIPTA, APTA, and federal officials at the launch of the agency's new Frontrunner vehicles
Technologyby Alex RomanSeptember 4, 2026

Biz Briefs: RIPTA Unveils New Frontrunners, Clevland RTA Adds New Siemens, and More

In METRO's latest installment, we take a look at recent news from Siemens, Prevost, Dodge, and more partnerships making headlines across the transportation sector.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Designing Stations Around the Passenger
RailSeptember 2, 2026

Why Simulating Pedestrian Movement Has Become Essential for Modern Rail Stations

Pedestrian microsimulation is helping rail planners identify bottlenecks, test station designs, and prepare complex transit hubs for growing passenger volumes.

Read More →