Speeding up the journey between NYC to London might not rely on supersonic jets, but a transatlantic tunnel…
For years, people have wanted to make the trip between the two cities, spanning about 3,400 miles, much quicker than the seven hour commercial flight. And though supersonic jets prove as one solution, some futurists believe in the dream of a transatlantic tunnel.
This herculean project has been estimated to cost about $20 trillion (more than £15 trillion), and would reinvent the way we travel internationally. Though the project is only in the theoretical phase, who knows what will eventually be possible as technological advancements continue to be made.
Concepts vary on how to construct the transatlantic tunnel between New York and London, with some proposing to build the entire tunnel beneath the ocean floor. Others suggest a floating tunnel anchored by cables and submerged meters below the waters surface, or a hybrid option with portions of the tunnel above water.
This wouldn’t be the first tunnel of its kind for England, as the existing Channel Tunnel, a 31-mile-long underwater railway, takes passengers from Folkstone, England to Coquelles, France. It’s currently the longest undersea tunnel, with 23.5 miles running under the English Channel.
The Channel Tunnel transports passengers between the two countries in 35 minutes. Yet, if all goes to plan, theorists estimate the proposed journey through transatlantic tunnel between NYC and London would only take about 54 minutes. Speeds of 5,000 miles per hour would be necessary to make the trip in the proposed 54 minutes. For context, commercial planes currently fly at a speed between 400 – 600 miles per hour.
Could you imagine getting all the way to England in under one hour? Hell, it probably takes you longer to get back to your apartment in NYC during rush hour or with whatever train delays that arise.
So whether this transatlantic tunnel ever does get built, just the idea of it inspires ways to improve travel and maximize efficiency. But, until then we’ll have to stick to the seven hour plane ride.