Transatlantic tunnel
A transatlantic tunnel is a theoretical tunnel which would span the Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe and would carry mass transit of some type—trains are envisioned in most proposals. Using advanced technologies, speeds of 300 to 5,000 mph (500 to 8,000 km/h) are envisioned.[1]
Plans for such a tunnel have not progressed beyond the conceptual stage, and no one is actively pursuing such a project. Most conceptions of the tunnel have it between the United States and the United Kingdom. The main barriers to constructing such a tunnel are cost—as much as $12 trillion[1]—and the limits of current materials science. Existing major tunnels, such as the Channel Tunnel and Seikan Tunnel, despite using less expensive technology than proposed for the Transatlantic tunnel, struggle financially. A Transatlantic Tunnel is 215 times longer than the longest current tunnel[2] and would cost perhaps 3000 times as much.[3]
History
Suggestions for such a structure go back to Jules Verne who wrote about it in 1895.[4] In 1913, the novel Der Tunnel was published by German author Bernhard Kellermann, which inspired four films of the same name: one in 1914 by William Wauer, and separate German, French, and English versions from 1933 to 1935: the German version was by Curtis Bernhardt. Suggesting contemporary interest, an original poster for the English version was estimated at more than $2000 by Heritage Auction Galleries in Dallas in the Summer of 2006.
Robert H. Goddard, the father of rocketry[citation needed], was issued two of his 214 patents for the idea.[4] Arthur C. Clarke mentions intercontinental tunnels in his 1956 novel, The City and the Stars.[5] The 1975 novel, A Transatlantic Tunnel, Hurrah!, describes a vacuum/maglev system on the ocean floor.[6] The April 2004 issue of Popular Science suggests a transatlantic tunnel is more feasible than previously thought and without major engineering challenges. It compares it favorably with laying transatlantic pipes and cables, but with a cost of 88 to 175 billion dollars.[7]
Variations
Many variations of the concept exist, including a tube above the seabed, a tunnel beneath the ocean floor, or some combination.
A 1960s proposal has a 3,100-mile (5,000-km) long near-vacuum tube with vactrains, a theoretical type of maglev train, that could travel at speeds up to 5,000 mph (8,000 km/h). At this speed, the travel time between New York and London would be less than one hour. Another modern variation intended to reduce cost is a submerged tunnel floating about fifteen stories below the ocean surface to avoid ships and bad weather, but not have to withstand high pressure. It would consist of 54,000 prefabricated sections held in place by 100,000 tethering cables. Each section would consist of a layer of foam sandwiched between steel. It too would have reduced air pressure.[1]
A proposed alternative route suggests a tunnel north from Newfoundland over the ice sheet of Greenland and across Iceland to the Faroe Islands and then Scotland. This route is cheaper to build, not least because it can have multiple tunnel heads, but more difficult due to adverse weather conditions in Greenland and the difficulty of maintaining the system near the ice sheet, though lessons learned from the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System might mitigate such difficulties.
See also
References
- ^ a b c Joseph Giotta (Narrator), Powderhouse Productions (2003-04-16). "Transatlantic Tunnel". Extreme Engineering. Discovery Channel.
{{cite episode}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|episodelink=,|city=, and|transcripturl=(help); Unknown parameter|serieslink=ignored (|series-link=suggested) (help) - ^ length ratio computed from 3100 miles vs. 14.5 for the Seikan
- ^ price ratio is $3.6 billion for the Seikan vs. $12,000 billion = 3333.33 times
- ^ a b Michael Rodman (Summer 2002). "Tunnel Vision". Harvard Law Bulletin, Harvard University. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
- ^ See synopsis in The City and the Stars
- ^ Stuart Carter (11 November2000). "Harry Harrison: A Transatlantic Tunnel, Hurrah!". Infinity+. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Carl Hoffman (April 2004). "Trans-Atlantic MagLev—Vacuum Tube Train". Popular Science. Retrieved 2007-10-01.
External links
- The Tunnel at IMDb