For many Europeans, visiting New York is a once-in-a-lifetime trip, requiring months of saving just to cover flights, hotels, and expenses in the Big Apple.
However, some people never make the journey because they fear flying or dread an eight-hour flight.
But what if there was a way to make the trip without stepping on a plane—and in under an hour?
A $19 Trillion Tunnel Plan
A proposed Transatlantic Tunnel could make this a reality.
Estimated to cost around $19 trillion ($19,000,000,000,000), this futuristic tunnel would cut the journey time to just 54 minutes.
Elon Musk Thinks He Can Do It for Less
Of course, Elon Musk is involved. The billionaire believes that his Boring Company could build the tunnel for ‘1,000 times less’ than the projected cost.
The concept involves vacuum tubes and magnetically levitating trains, reducing friction and allowing speeds to exceed 3,000 mph—far faster than even the legendary Concorde.
For comparison, the world’s fastest train, China’s Shanghai Maglev, currently reaches 186 mph, down from 268 mph in 2021.
Could This Really Happen?
While the idea of zipping between London and New York in less than an hour is exciting, there are major engineering challenges:
1. The Depth of the Atlantic
- The tunnel would need to go as deep as 5,500 meters (18,000 feet) below sea level.
- Engineers would need to assess the seabed’s geological structure to determine if it’s stable enough for construction.
2. Water Pressure Issues
- At such depths, intense water pressure could make tunnel construction extremely difficult.
- The pressure could also create ground stress issues in the rock formations beneath the seabed.
3. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge
- This massive underwater volcanic ridge cuts across the Atlantic Ocean.
- It presents a huge geological obstacle, adding to the tunnel’s complexity.
Is It Just a Fantasy?
While the idea of traveling to New York in under an hour sounds incredible, experts question whether it’s realistically possible.
The challenges—seabed stability, water pressure, and volcanic activity—are major hurdles.
For now, it remains an ambitious dream, but with advancements in engineering and Musk’s confidence, the future of high-speed transatlantic travel may not be as far-fetched as it seems.