The $20 trillion Transatlantic Tunnel that will connect New York to London in 54 minutes!
In terms of futuristic infrastructure, the idea of building a tunnel stretching from Britain to the United States has long been a dream prospect. At an astronomical cost of around $19.8 trillion (£15.6 trillion), the effort represents the epitome of ambition to transcend geographical boundaries and strengthen the "special relationship" shared by the two countries, despite being 3,400 miles apart.
Currently, the flight from London to New York can take about eight hours, but supporters of this tunnel envision reducing these intercontinental excursions to short hops comparable to daily commutes. This big idea began over a hundred years ago and would involve building an underwater corridor that crosses parts of the Atlantic that are several miles deep. For context, the Channel Tunnel connecting England and France, which is only 23.5 miles long, took six grueling years to complete.
Several proposals have been put forward to make the Transatlantic Tunnel feasible, including burying it under the seabed, placing it on top, or some combination thereof. One particularly innovative proposal envisages a floating tunnel, hovering some 49 meters below the surface, created from multiple prefabricated sections and anchored by strong cables.
This innovative structure would allow trains to slide smoothly between continents, bypassing the immense pressure of the deep sea and avoiding maritime hazards. While it is generally agreed that the structure will be designed for trains rather than cars, as car journeys would take several days and require additional infrastructure for drivers, Vactrains could hypothetically reach speeds of up to 5,000 mph, the Mirror reports.
This would cut the journey time from London to New York to just 54 minutes. Jet propulsion has also been suggested as a method to propel the wagons at high speeds, although this approach would require an 18-minute deceleration period after reaching top speed to ensure safe arrival.
Despite the huge costs and logistical challenges associated with the concept, no serious proposals are currently being considered by governments on either side of the Atlantic. While a tunnel connecting Europe and North America may not be possible in the near future, plans are well underway for a tunnel between Europe and Africa. Earlier this year, it was reported that a new underwater tunnel could connect Spain with Morocco by the end of the decade.
The Moroccan National Company for Straits Studies (SNED) has revealed that they are currently exploring the feasibility of a project both from a financial and logistical point of view. The proposed tunnel would include a 17-mile underwater stretch reaching depths of up to 475m, connecting Punta Paloma, west of Tarifa, to Malabata in northern Morocco, east of Tangier.
This is in contrast to the 23-mile underwater section of the Channel Tunnel, which only reaches a depth of 75m. The cost of building the two tunnels connecting Europe and Africa remains unknown, but some estimates suggest it could be around £6 billion, including the construction of a third maintenance tunnel. The idea of a tunnel across the Strait of Gibraltar was first proposed 40 years ago and is considered strategically important for Spain, Morocco, Europe and Africa.
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