Elon Musk has unveiled a groundbreaking proposal for a submarine train capable of reaching speeds of up to 4,828 km/h (3,000 mph), potentially linking London and New York in just 54 minutes.
This innovative transportation system would utilize vacuum technology to minimize air resistance and pressurized trains to maximize speed.
Musk discussed this idea on platform X, responding to a report estimating the cost of a $20 billion transatlantic tunnel. He claimed that his company, The Boring Company, could execute the project at a fraction of the cost.
The proposed technology involves vacuum tubes that drastically reduce air friction, allowing for unprecedented speeds in ground transportation. Current commercial flights across the Atlantic take between seven and eight hours.
However, the project faces significant challenges, as constructing a submarine tunnel exceeding 5,500 kilometers would require decades of work and international cooperation. For context, the Eurotunnel, connecting England and France, took over 20 years to complete, despite being only 37.6 kilometers long.
The submarine train also competes with other futuristic transatlantic travel options, such as Boom Technology's XB-1 supersonic aircraft, which promises to cross the Atlantic in 3.5 hours, and SpaceX's Starship rockets that could connect New York and London in under 30 minutes.
While Musk has not provided a detailed plan, his proposal has sparked interest among transportation experts. Despite the enormous obstacles, this concept could transform global mobility and redefine transatlantic transport.