The rabbit line is an underground pipeline that runs 2.5km to the UBC Hospital, using air pressure of 90~100 psi (pounds per square inch) to propel the rabbit. The same air pressure is used to stop the rabbit by venting the air out 30 feet from the end.

A “rabbit” consists of a glass vial with a dosage of the requested radiopharmaceutical (in liquid form), protected by an aluminum capsule. The capsules have two “lobes”, kind of like rabbit ears, that may be (part of) the reason it’s called the rabbit line. The rabbits travel the 2.5km in about 2.5 minutes with a peak speed of 100km/hr and an average of 60km/hr.

Surely the “Rabbit Line” moniker comes from being something relatively small and quick moving through a tunnel underground.