A $19 Trillion Tunnel Could Whisk You from London to New York in Under an Hour

[Social Media]

 

Imagine boarding a train in London and stepping out in New York just 54 minutes later. While this might sound like something out of a sci-fi novel, a proposed Transatlantic Tunnel claims it could make this a reality.  

 

Backed by Elon Musk, this ambitious concept would allow passengers to travel the 3,400-mile (5,470 km) journey at astonishing speeds. However, the convenience comes with an eye-watering price tag—an estimated $19 trillion (£15 trillion), which is more than five times the UK's total gross domestic product. Musk has fueled excitement by suggesting that his tunnel-digging venture, The Boring Company, could complete the project for "1000-times less money."  

 

 

The technology behind such a tunnel is not entirely new. Using vacuum tubes and magnetically levitating trains, engineers believe they could eliminate almost all friction, allowing trains to reach speeds exceeding 3,000 mph (4,800 kmph). The result? A journey so smooth you wouldn't even spill your coffee.  

 

While this might seem like a futuristic dream, the idea of a transatlantic tunnel has been around for more than a century. The first known proposal appeared in an 1895 story by Michel Verne, son of the famed sci-fi writer Jules Verne. Titled *Un Express de l’Avenir* (*An Express of the Future*), it described a high-speed underwater connection between Europe and America. In 1913, German author Bernhard Kellerman wrote *Der Tunnel* (*The Tunnel*), which later inspired the 1935 English-language film *Transatlantic Tunnel*.  

 

In the early 20th century, the pioneering engineer Robert H. Goddard—credited with inventing the first liquid-fueled rocket—received patents for tunnel designs that hinted at this high-speed future. However, it is only in recent decades that advancing technology has made such an endeavor seem plausible.  

 

Two key innovations are bringing the Transatlantic Tunnel closer to reality. The first is magnetic levitation (maglev) trains, which use powerful electromagnets to lift the train off the tracks. This eliminates direct contact with the rails, significantly reducing friction and allowing for unprecedented speeds. Maglev trains are already operational in countries like Japan, Germany, and China, where they are considered the future of high-speed transport. China, in particular, is expanding its maglev network, with ambitions for passenger trains traveling over 621 miles (1,000 km) per hour—approaching the cruising speed of a Boeing 737.  

 

Currently, China has two operational maglev lines: the Changsha Maglev, which reaches 62 mph (101 kmph), and the Shanghai Maglev, which hits 268 mph (431 kmph). While impressive, these speeds are still far from what would be needed for a transatlantic journey in under an hour.  

That’s where the second crucial innovation comes in: vacuum tunnels. Instead of running trains on open-air tracks, they would travel inside enclosed tubes with the air pumped out, drastically reducing air resistance. This "hyperloop" design could allow trains to reach speeds exceeding 600 mph (965 kmph), far surpassing any current railway system.  

 

 

Elon Musk has long been an advocate for hyperloop technology, even proposing a vacuum-sealed tunnel between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Although the concept is still in its early stages, recent breakthroughs suggest that such a system is not entirely out of reach.  

 

While a $19 trillion transatlantic tunnel remains an enormous challenge, the combination of maglev and hyperloop technology could, one day, transform global travel. If realized, it could redefine transportation as we know it—bringing the world closer together in ways once thought impossible.

 

Based on a report by Daily Mail  2025-02-26

 

 

[KhunLA]

Wonder how many millions they'll waste studying that proposal that will never happen.

[Srikcir]

2 hours ago, Social Media said:

a proposed Transatlantic Tunnel

Call it the Transamerican Tunnel and Trump will be all-in.

[a3tsw]

2 hours ago, Social Media said:

Currently, China has two operational maglev lines: the Changsha Maglev, which reaches 62 mph (101 kmph), and the Shanghai Maglev, which hits 268 mph (431 kmph). While impressive, these speeds are still far from what would be needed for a transatlantic journey in under an hour.  

Can't say I'm overly impressed , perhaps by Thai rail standards...

[soalbundy]

Why would this be desirable?