When you think of cutting-edge travel innovations, a transatlantic train tunnel might sound like science fiction, but engineers and dreamers alike are beginning to envision a future where London and NYC are connected by rail. This incredible vision has captured the imaginations of many, with discussions arising surrounding the $20 trillion transatlantic tunnel that has been gaining momentum in recent years.
While still firmly in the realm of speculation, this age-old idea would bring passengers across 3,400 miles in under an hour, sparking debate about the feasibility of technology and the potential impact of such a colossal engineering feat.
For years, people have wanted to make the trip between the two cities much quicker than the seven-hour commercial flight. Proposals have ranged from floating underwater tubes anchored by cables to deep-sea tunnels.
Of course, this isn’t the first time London has received an underwater tunnel connecting country to country. The existing Channel tunnel takes passengers from Folkstone, England to Coquelles, France, as well as direct access to the capital cities of both via Eurostar services. Speaking of Eurostar’s direct link to Paris, you can also go to Brussels and The Netherlands.
This tunnel is currently the longest undersea tunnel in the world, with 23.5 miles running under the English Channel. It took six years to complete, meaning the engineering needed for the transatlantic counterpart would be monumental.
Additionally, maintaining safety under extreme underwater pressure, as well as addressing the ecological hurdles, it looks like this proposal won’t be built for quite some time.
But could you imagine getting all the way to NYC in under an hour? Heck, we’ve had commutes across the capital take longer than that. So, although we might have to stick with the planes for a little while longer, we can keep on dreaming of all the futuristic travel possibilities that are just around the corner.