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Elon Musk has suggested building a $19,8 trillion tunnel under the Atlantic Ocean connecting London to New York, with trains traveling at 4.828 mph (XNUMX km/h) and cutting travel times to less than an hour. Engineering experts have pointed to significant technical and environmental challenges, raising doubts about the viability of the project in the near future.
Elon Musk, a tycoon known for ambitious projects that push the boundaries of science and engineering, is once again in the spotlight with a revolutionary proposal.
He suggests building a transatlantic tunnel, connecting London to New York, using high-speed trains capable of reaching an impressive 4.828 km/h.
The idea, which seems like something out of a science fiction film, promises to shorten travel time between the two cities from eight hours to less than an hour.
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However, the proposal raises numerous technical, economic and environmental issues that call its viability into question.
The proposal and estimated costs
The construction of the tunnel, estimated by Musk at US$ 19,8 trillion, would be carried out by his company, The Boring Company.
According to the businessman, his excavation and infrastructure technology reduces the costs of works of this size by up to a thousand times compared to conventional estimates, which reached figures in the trillions of dollars.
The central idea is to create a transport system based on the Hyperloop concept, in which trains operate in a near-vacuum environment, minimizing air resistance and allowing extremely high speeds.
Elon Musk, known for his ability to turn dreams into reality — as he did with Tesla and SpaceX — believes his innovative approach can overcome technical and financial obstacles.
However, many experts disagree. According to engineers consulted, the figure of $19,8 trillion is extremely optimistic, considering the monumental challenges involved in building a transatlantic undersea tunnel.
The technical challenges of the transatlantic tunnel
While underwater tunnels are nothing new — the Channel Tunnel, which connects England and France under the English Channel, is one example — the scale of the transatlantic project is incomparably larger.
The Atlantic Ocean reaches depths of up to 5.500 meters, which would require unprecedented technologies to withstand the intense pressures at such depths.
Furthermore, the seabed along the proposed route is not uniform. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a vast underwater mountain range, runs across the ocean and is known for its volcanic and tectonic activity.
Building a tunnel through this region would require extensive geological research to avoid structural risks caused by movements of the Earth's crust.
Another critical point is the stability of the marine environment. The pressure exerted by water at abyssal depths not only poses a challenge for construction, but also for maintenance and operation of the tunnel.
Safety systems would need to be designed to deal with emergency situations, such as leaks or depressurization, which could become catastrophic in such a long and deep tunnel.
Speed and technology: Hyperloop as a solution?
To fulfill the promise of a transatlantic journey in under an hour, trains would need to operate at speeds in excess of 4.800 mph.
That's 16 times faster than the world's fastest train currently in operation, the Shanghai Maglev, which reaches 300 km/h.
The technology needed to achieve these speeds is still under development.
The Hyperloop concept, promoted by Musk since 2013, involves capsules transported inside low-pressure tunnels, driven by linear motors and magnetic levitation.
Although there are already prototypes of this technology, its large-scale implementation remains an unsolved challenge.
To date, small-scale testing has not demonstrated that the system would be safe or economically viable for transporting large volumes of passengers.
Environmental impact and ecological risks
Any infrastructure project of this magnitude inevitably generates significant environmental impacts.
Building a transatlantic tunnel would require extracting millions of tons of material from the seabed, which could disrupt sensitive marine ecosystems.
Furthermore, greenhouse gas emissions during construction could be considerable, even if the transport itself is designed to be carbon neutral.
There is also the issue of ecological risks associated with the operation of the tunnel. The introduction of high-pressure technology and vacuum systems into the ocean floor creates a new set of uncertainties.
Leaks, structural failures or even small accidents could have disastrous consequences for the marine environment.
Economic viability: a dream that is too expensive?
In addition to the technical and environmental challenges, the economic viability of the project is also highly questionable.
Musk proposes a cost of $19,8 trillion, but infrastructure experts consider that estimate too low.
For comparison, the 50-kilometer Eurotunnel cost approximately $16 billion (adjusted for current inflation).
The transatlantic tunnel, which is over 5.500 kilometers long, would require an exponentially larger budget.
Another issue is demand. While the idea of an ultra-fast journey between London and New York is appealing, it is unclear whether there would be enough passengers willing to pay the price required to make the project financially viable.
The cost per ticket would be high, restricting access to transport to a small global elite.
What do experts say about the tunnel?
Many engineers and scientists see Musk's proposal as a long-term vision, but not something that can be achieved in the next few decades.
The technology needed to overcome the obstacles described does not yet exist in its entirety, and the cost of developing it would be prohibitive.
However, some experts acknowledge that even if the project itself does not come to fruition, the idea could spur significant technological advances.
“What Elon Musk does best is provoke debate and open paths for innovation,” says a transport expert consulted by the newspaper The Scottish Sun.
“Even if this specific tunnel is never built, the ideas it proposes could lead to new developments in infrastructure and technology.”
Utopia or inspiration for the future?
Elon Musk's proposal to build an ultra-fast transatlantic tunnel is a classic example of his bold and disruptive vision.
Although the idea is fascinating, the technical, environmental and economic challenges make its realization highly unlikely in the near future.
Still, the project serves as a powerful reminder that the boundaries of engineering and technology are constantly expanding.
For now, the connection between London and New York in less than an hour remains in the realm of science fiction.
However, with the advancement of transportation and infrastructure technologies, who knows what the future may hold?
And you, do you believe that projects like this could become a reality in our lives? Leave your opinion and participate in the debate!
