We all know of the primary element of long-distance interstellar travel in the Star Trek universe being that of linear warp travel at faster-than-light speed from one point in space to another.
However, are there any canonical (books or series) instances in the Star Trek universe where point to point space folding travel is mentioned/displayed (similar to the BSG Reimagined Series)? An instant “zap” from one spot in space to another?
Does any species possess this technology?
The Sikarians (as seen in VOY: Prime Factors) have a device called a 'spatial trajector' which operates on the principle of folding space in order to travel vast distances instantly.
KIM: That platform. It's a transportation device. Extremely sophisticated. It operates on the principle of folding space.
JANEWAY: That's something that's been theorised, but no one's ever been able to develop the technology.
KIM: Well, these people have. I've just been to Alastria and back. Alastria is forty thousand light years away.
GATH: We call it a spatial trajector. We are able to travel to all the planets in this quadrant.
Subsequently we learn (in ST: Picard) that the Borg also have this tech, having assimilated the Sikarian home planet.
The coaxial warp drive seen in VOY: Vis à Vis" also operates on a similar principle, allowing rapid FTL travel.
STETH: Here it is, the coaxial induction drive. It draws in subatomic particles and reconfigures their internal geometries.
PARIS: And this is what makes folding space possible?
STETH: At least in spurts. Unfortunately, particle instabilities keep overloading my engines. But I'm going to make it work. I have to keep in motion. I don't like the thought of settling down. Too many new ships to drive. Too many intriguing women.
According to Doug Drexler, supposedly the Enterprise J (seen in ENT: Azati Prime) has space folding engines, allowing trans-galactic travel.
I guess I’d have to call it a Universe class vessel. The approved J had one deflector, recognizably descended from the NX. I imagine they are beyond Transwarp. I imagine they can fold space, and that they are exploring other Galaxy’s (extremely risky business) besides the Milky Way. – Doug
Yes, there are various alternate methods of travel depicted in the Star Trek universe which fit the general characteristic of near-instantaneous jumps across interstellar distances. There have been several depicted in the various shows. How many, really depends on how broad your criteria are.
A very close match to the concept of jumping across space is the Spore drive, which is a major part of Star Trek: Discovery. The Spore drive is used across many episodes, both as the focus for the plot and as just a means of transportation. From the point of view of an outside observer, the Spore drive appears very similar to BSG's jumps, even if the technology is explained in a substantially different way. Of the various possible matches for the instantaneous jump technology you're looking for, the Spore drive has gotten the most screen time, by a considerable margin.
Example of a jump using the Spore drive from season 2 episode 2 of Star Trek: Discovery:
Depending on what qualifies for "any near-instantaneous point-to-point travel across interstellar distances", one would have to consider things like:
However, both of the above examples are on the scale of individuals, rather than ships. If you're interested in only near-instantaneous travel on the scale of space ships, then you'd have to include things like Q instantaneously moving the Enterprise and other ships around in various Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes, etc.
And the Iconians did too with their gateways. In Star Trek Online some of their gateways are in space so can be used by ships similar to wormholes
I believe the way the enhanced Reginald Barclay brings the Enterprise-D to the planet of the Cytherians in the TNG epispode "The N'th Degree" counts as folding space (though I do not believe they explicitly call it that).
