Elon Musk's hypersonic tunnel to link London and New York
A hypersonic underwater tunnel connecting the United Kingdom to the United States could see trains traveling at speeds of 4,800 km per hour, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.
The world’s richest man, Elon Musk, aims to realize the project to link London and New York, valued at £16 billion. The billionaire presented the concept in 2013 and founded the Boring Company, focused on tunnel technology. It would operate by creating a vacuum within the tunnel and using pressure-driven vehicles.
Trains would not face air resistance inside the tunnel. In theory, they could reach much higher speeds than conventional trains. The capsules moving along the structure could theoretically reach speeds above 4,800 km per hour. If this were to happen, a trip between the two major cities would take just 54 minutes.
Technology trials are underway in India and China, with plans to integrate it into their high-speed rail systems nationwide. Proposals for the tunnel remain unclear. While some have suggested a route beneath the ocean floor, others have favored pillars or a floating tube, held in place by cables anchored to the ocean floor.
It’s worth noting that the link between the UK and France took over six years to build. If the transatlantic tunnel were built at the same speed, it would take 782 years.
