Beyond drones: Why the future of delivery is going underground

While drones and autonomous robots have captured the public imagination, a quieter revolution is brewing beneath our feet. Companies worldwide are developing automated micro-trains, conveyor systems, and distribution networks – all underground – to transport packages quickly and efficiently.

This may sound like science fiction, but the concept has deep historical roots.

From the pneumatic tubes of 19th-century department stores to Chicago’s expansive freight tunnel network in the early 1900s, underground transport has long captivated engineers and city planners. Now, armed with cutting-edge technology, a new generation of visionaries is reimagining these ideas on a grand scale.

Underground logistics

UK-based startup Magway is at the forefront of this underground renaissance. Their system uses linear magnetic motors to propel cargo pods through meter-wide pipes at up to 50 miles per hour. With zero emissions and the capacity to move 1,200 carriages per minute, Magway’s technology promises to revolutionize urban logistics.

The company’s recent showcase at Wincanton’s W2 innovation center in England marked the first time their system was tested outside their facility, with impressive results.

Magway’s approach combines the traditional idea of underground conveyor systems with pioneering technology, potentially producing networks on a bigger scale than we’ve previously seen.

In response to its rapidly aging population and looming labor shortages, Japan is planning a massive 310-mile automated underground transportation system between Tokyo and Osaka.

This $26 billion project, slated for completion by 2034, could be the key to maintaining the country’s logistics capabilities in the face of demographic challenges.

Japan’s Transport and Tourism Ministry has proposed this fully automated system to respond directly to the country’s declining population.

Official figures show that Japan lost around 837,000 people in 2023, the biggest annual loss since records began in 1950. The working-age population has sharply declined from a peak of 87 million in 1993 to 75 million in 2018. With intervention, the Ministry projects that 30 percent of packages shipped in 2030 will be deliverable due to labor shortages.

Switzerland’s Cargo Sous Terrain (CST) is the most ambitious project underway. This vast network of six-meter diameter tunnels will connect major Swiss cities with 500 km of underground freight routes by 2045.

CST estimates it could reduce heavy goods traffic by 40 percent, significantly cutting CO2 emissions and noise pollution.

The project began drilling tests in 2023 for the first 70 km section connecting Härkingen to Zurich and planned to begin operations as soon as 2031.

The system will use automated driverless transport vehicles that automatically pick up and deposit loads from ramps and lifts connecting surface distribution centers to the underground network. The tunnels will be divided into three lanes and operate 24 hours daily.

By adopting existing infrastructure for its destination stops, CST will have links to the crucial last mile of delivery infrastructure that reaches people’s homes, alongside air, rail, and sea connections required for import and export. The project’s estimated cost is £35 billion, with completion expected in 2045.

Challenges and potential

While these projects promise immense promise, the road ahead is not without obstacles. The multi-billion dollar price tags and unproven technology at such large scales present significant risks.

Previous attempts at revolutionary transport systems, like Virgin Hyperloop and Elon Musk’s Hyperloop project, serve as cautionary tales. Both suffered from semi-abandonment, leaving very expensive infrastructure behind.

However, the potential benefits are equally staggering. Beyond environmental gains, underground freight systems could reshape our cities, freeing up space for green areas and housing and allowing satellite towns to flourish. Urban planners could prioritize human-centered design in our built environments as congestion eases.

The advantages of a new underground freight infrastructure would herald positive changes. Less road traffic lends a serious hand to environmental targets for the whole planet.

Reduced commute times mean satellite towns further from city centers and recognized hubs will be allowed to flourish and develop. Human-centered design for built environments will be simpler to achieve with a great load of the logistics requirement removed, meaning green spaces may be reclaimed, and new housing could be created in repurposed infrastructure.

Historical context and future implications

The concept of underground transport has been introduced previously. The Euro Tunnel, located 75 meters below sea level, transports over a million trucks and around 2 million passenger vehicles annually between England and France.

On a smaller scale, pneumatic vacuum tubes have been used in large stores and supermarkets since the 1800s. The ‘Prague pneumatic post,’ the world’s last preserved municipal pneumatic post system, totaled about 55 km of underground tubing and operated from 1889 until it was rendered inoperative during the 2002 European floods.

These historical examples demonstrate the long-standing fascination with underground solutions. However, the current crop of projects represents a significant leap forward in scale and ambition. They aim to address logistical challenges and pressing societal issues like climate change, urbanization, and demographic shifts.

The success of these projects could have far-reaching implications for how we design our cities, manage our resources, and approach sustainability.

However, with so many challenges waiting to be uncovered, keeping a close eye on these projects is crucial. The engineering hurdles are significant, and the financial risks are high. Yet, if successful, these underground networks could revolutionize logistics and help us build more sustainable cities.

As we face increasing pressure to reduce our environmental impact and create more livable urban spaces, these subterranean solutions offer a tantalizing glimpse of a possible future.

A future where our streets are less congested, our air is cleaner, and our cities are designed for people rather than vehicles. It’s a vision taking shape beneath our feet, promising to transform how we think about transportation, urban planning, and sustainability.