Magway Ltd

Magway is a UK startup noted for its e-commerce and freight delivery system that aims to transport goods in pods that fit in new and existing 90 cm (35 in)-diameter pipes, underground and overground, reducing road congestion and air pollution.^[1] It uses linear magnetic motors to shuttle pods, designed to accommodate a standard delivery crate (or tote), at approximately 31 miles per hour (50 km/h).^[2]

Founded in 2017 by Rupert Cruise, an engineer on Elon Musk's Hyperloop project, and Phill Davies, a business expert, Magway secured a £0.65 million grant in 2018, through Innovate UK’s 'Emerging and Enabling Technologies' competition, to develop an operational demonstrator. In 2019, £1.58 million was raised through crowdfunding to fund a pilot scheme,^[3] and in 2020, Magway was awarded £1.9 million^[1] from the UK Government's 'Driving the Electric Revolution Challenge', an initiative launched to coincide with the first meeting of a new Cabinet committee focused on climate change. In September 2020, Magway completed its first full loop of test track in a warehouse in Wembley. ^[4]

Primarily focused on two freight routes from large consolidation centres near London (Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire and Hatfield, Hertfordshire) into Park Royal, a west London distribution centre, future plans involve installing 850 kilometres (530 mi) of track in decommissioned London gas pipelines, to deliver e-commerce goods from distribution centres direct to consumers in the capital.^[5] The design of the pipes is similar to the current underground pipe system in small tunnels that distribute water, gas, and electricity in the city.^[6] The pods are powered by electromagnetic wave from magnetic motors that are similar to those used in roller coasters.^[7] A proposed route that runs from Milton Keynes to London will have the capacity to transport more than 600 million parcels annually.^[6] Outside of urban areas, Magway plans to build its pipe system alongside motorways.^[8]