Trains travelling at 3,000mph might seem like the stuff of fantasy, but the age of hyperloop technology might be closer than we think, and the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, is a big fan
A hypersonic underwater tunnel connecting the UK to the United States could see trains travelling at speeds of 3,000mph. But the dream of a trans-Atlantic train connecting London and New York would come at a price – almost £16billion ($20tn).
The idea of a “Transatlantic Tunnel” has existed for a while. But developments in technology mean it may one day be possible.
The world’s richest man, Elon Musk, is one of those who has championed vacuum tube technology. He once proposed sending capsules through a vacuum environment to reduce air resistance.
Currently a flight between the two cities takes around eight hours. Trains powered by conventional technology running underneath the ocean would not be able to make the journey fast enough to justify the cost of construction.
The distance between the two global cities is more than 3,000 miles, and it would take years to build. The cost could be anything up to £15.5tn.
But Musk and others say vacuum tube technology could hold the key and make the concept viable. The multi-billionaire introduced the concept in a white paper in 2013, and has also been a proponent of the field, organising student competitions and founding The Boring Company, focused on tunnelling technology.
It would work by creating a vacuum within the tunnel and using pressurised vehicles.
Trains would not face any air resistance within the tunnel. In theory, they could reach far higher speeds than conventional trains. Capsules darting along the structure could theoretically reach speeds of more than 3,000 mph. If that was to happen then a journey between the two great cities would barely take a hour.
This design is sometimes called a “hyperloop”. It might seem like the stuff of fantasy sci-fi but the age of hyperloop technology might be closer than we think, reports Newsweek.
Trials of the technology are underway in India and China, with plans to integrate it into their high-speed rail systems nationwide. A Transatlantic Tunnel would be much more efficient and environmentally friendly than flying.
Proposals for a tunnel are still unclear. While some have suggested a route underneath the ocean floor, others have favoured stilts or a floating tube, held in place by cables attached to the ocean floor.
And judging by how long it took to build the Channel Tunnel linking France to the UK it won’t be something we see in our lifetime. The link between Britain and France took more then six years to build. If the trans-Atlantic tunnel were built at the same speed, it would take 782 years.
