Will we ever be able to build a transatlantic tunnel?

To reduce driver fatigue, builders in China have installed an LED ceiling in a 10.8km (6.7mi) expressway tunnel under Lake Taihu. But could it ever be possible to build a tunnel under the Atlantic Ocean? (Image credit: Feature China via Getty Images)

The dream seems incredible: to board a train in New York and in 54 minutes find yourself in London, passing through a tunnel under the Atlantic. Such trips are mentioned in some recent projects. But is it realistic to build a transatlantic tunnel or is it just a fantasy?

Short answer: Using current technology, it's probably not possible.

First, the 54-minute journey requires vacuum trains traveling at 8,000 km/h (5,000 mph) — a technology that has not yet been developed. At normal train speeds, the journey would take about 15 hours, slower than an eight-hour flight.

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Sourse: www.livescience.com

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