# Tunnel from the US to UK or Europe possible? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 9, 2004, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tunnel-from-the-us-to-uk-or-europe-possible/228236 "2004-02-09T06:34:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tunnel-from-the-us-to-uk-or-europe-possible/228236/61 "2004-02-11T17:59:44Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > If there was a sustainable market for “Concorde speeds”, there’d still be regular supersonic operations across the Atlantic. There isn’t, and there aren’t, and that’s without the multi-billion investment of any tunnel project. I’ve heard several aerospace afficionadoes say that the Concordes were never operated profitably, claims by British Airways notwithstanding. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tunnel-from-the-us-to-uk-or-europe-possible/228236/62 "2004-02-11T18:18:39Z")
> [@](#): > > Having said that, I think we quite possibly will eventually have practical applications of nanomachines I agree. I can see a number of cancer- and disease-fighting applications. They may even help us live longer, though I find virtual immortality unlikely. > [@](#): > > Vaguly reminds me of an SNES game called “Secret of Mana”, except they used Cannons. That sounds like a fun way to travel. Pull the cord and BAM! your in Australia in seconds. > [@](#): > > The link you supplied suggests that the water temperature at ocean depths may be as low as zero degrees C – not what most would call “too cold to support human life.” And if the tunnel is beneath the ocean floor, presumably it will encounter rising temperatures, as in deep mines. Wouldn’t be an issue if the tunnel istelf was a vaccuum. ---
**Author:** ![Ray\_Walker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ray\_Walker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ray_Walker)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tunnel-from-the-us-to-uk-or-europe-possible/228236/63 "2004-02-11T18:49:18Z")
The one thing that jumps out at me right away is how much it would suck to spend 7+ days driving through a tunnel. I mean, there’s no scenery; it’s just a tunnel. Who would want to sit through that? Also, presumably people are going to have stop every once in a while to sleep. Would there be hotels, restaurants, etc in the tunnel? ---
**Author:** ![MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bb73d2/32.png) [@MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_Master_of_Ceremonies)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tunnel-from-the-us-to-uk-or-europe-possible/228236/64 "2004-02-11T18:52:15Z")
> [@Ray Walker](#): > > The one thing that jumps out at me right away is how much it would suck to spend 7+ days driving through a tunnel. I mean, there’s no scenery; it’s just a tunnel. Who would want to sit through that? > > Also, presumably people are going to have stop every once in a while to sleep. Would there be hotels, restaurants, etc in the tunnel? Yes, but the food would be so-so. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2004, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tunnel-from-the-us-to-uk-or-europe-possible/228236/65 "2004-02-11T19:44:08Z")
> [@Ray Walker](#): > > The one thing that jumps out at me right away is how much it would suck to spend 7+ days driving through a tunnel. Why would you build a road tunnel? It makes much more sense to run a high speed train, like they do for the Channel Tunnel. A modern high-speed train can cover the distance from London to New York in less than 20 hours. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tunnel-from-the-us-to-uk-or-europe-possible/228236/66 "2004-02-12T02:34:09Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > It makes much more sense to run a high speed train, like they do for the Channel Tunnel. A modern high-speed train can cover the distance from London to New York in less than 20 hours. True. Of course, a 747 can do three trips in that time, without the expense of the tunnel. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tunnel-from-the-us-to-uk-or-europe-possible/228236/67 "2004-02-12T02:57:08Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > Of course, a 747 can do three trips in that time, without the expense of the tunnel. But once the tunnel is built, the train will be far more energy-efficient than a 747. Besides, the speed I quoted above is what’s achieved in conventional railways today. By the time a trans-Atlantic tunnel becomes a reality, there will undoubtedly be advances in train technology as well. As I said before, if air is pumped out of the tunnel there’s virtually no limit on speed. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tunnel-from-the-us-to-uk-or-europe-possible/228236/68 "2004-02-12T03:21:21Z")
Even if you can build a maglev train that goes as fast as a 747, you still won’t get to build the tunnel. Consider the cost/benefit factors. A trans-Atlantic tunnel would easily be the most expensive thing ever created in the history of mankind. You’re going to have to get investors to put up mind-boggling amounts of money. And what will you accomplish? You’ll build a tunnel that can compete with airliners. But…_we already have airliners!_ You’ll be spending skillions of dollars/euros/yen/etc to re-invent the wheel. If a trans-Atlantic tunnel is going to be economically viable, it will have to offer a huge, obvious, and undeniable advantage over airplanes and ships. > [@](#): > > What about flying cars? Won’t we have flying cars? General Motors had a working prototype, but a professional assassin named Fransico Scaramanga stole it. ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tunnel-from-the-us-to-uk-or-europe-possible/228236/69 "2004-02-12T10:53:09Z")
High speed trains are already competing well with airlines within the crowded continent of Europe; vac-trains will most likely arrive here or in Japan before elsewhere. The main advantage of trains over airlines is that they run on electric power; when oil reserves get low, electric trains will run on electricity generated by solar power, fission or fusion. Airlines in the post-oil world will have to run on fuel synthesised from biomass, using electricity in the process; wherever it is economical to do this, then yes, there will be airlines. Medium haul travel, and cargo transport within landmasses, will be moved more efficiently by rail transport of some kind, it seems to me. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tunnel-from-the-us-to-uk-or-europe-possible/228236/70 "2004-02-12T13:30:08Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > But once the tunnel is built, the train will be far more energy-efficient than a 747. Correct. But since (barring some serious nanotech magic) the cost of such a tunnel would be approximately equal to all the money ever spent on transportation infrastructure, even the most optimistic forecast of efficiency may fall short of justifying the expense. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tunnel-from-the-us-to-uk-or-europe-possible/228236/71 "2004-02-12T14:36:23Z")
> [@](#): > > Besides, the speed I quoted above is what’s achieved in conventional railways today. By the time a trans-Atlantic tunnel becomes a reality, there will undoubtedly be advances in train technology as well. As I said before, if air is pumped out of the tunnel there’s virtually no limit on speed. > [@](#): > > High speed trains are already competing well with airlines within the crowded continent of Europe; vac-trains will most likely arrive here or in Japan before elsewhere. Maybe. The major problem is the unpkeep on the line - a small leak somewhere can ruin it. I can see it happening but we’ll need new constructon techniques to work with it. > [@](#): > > The main advantage of trains over airlines is that they run on electric power; when oil reserves get low, electric trains will run on electricity generated by solar power, fission or fusion. > > Airlines in the post-oil world will have to run on fuel synthesised from biomass, using electricity in the process; wherever it is economical to do this, then yes, there will be airlines. Actually, its likely we’ll have fusion-powered orbital hoppers by the time we run out of oil. The idea is fairly simple. > [@](#): > > What about flying cars? Won’t we have flying cars? There actually are some real, but rare cars like Scaramanga’s. I saw a picture of some hobbyists who rebuil a Honda into a flying car. It could drive normally r they could strap-on wings. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tunnel-from-the-us-to-uk-or-europe-possible/228236/72 "2004-02-12T16:23:29Z")
> [@](#): > > It would be possible with nanotechnology _The Diamond Age_, by Neal Stephenson? 😉 > [@](#): > > All over L.A., for instance, you’ll see where rail lines have been pulled up and/or paved over There are tracks running along Exposition, a block from where I lived on Clarington. I _might_ have seen a train on them in the '80s, but I don’t remember. I do remember the tracks crossing Westwood, which have now been pulled up. How must it have been to have a train running from downtown to Santa Monica? ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tunnel-from-the-us-to-uk-or-europe-possible/228236/73 "2004-02-12T17:47:46Z")
> [@](#): > > There actually are some real, but rare cars like Scaramanga’s. I saw a picture of some hobbyists who rebuil a Honda into a flying car. It could drive normally r they could strap-on wings. The automobile companies actually did feasibility studies for flying cars many years ago. They came to the conclusion that such vehicles would be insanely dangerous to operate, and too much of a hazard to the people on the ground. I’d have to agree; imagine some guy flying home on saturday night after a few hours at the bar, or a little old lady who can barely see over the control panel, or a mom who’s trying to fly while at the same time trying to swat her bratty kids in the back seat, or all the other boneheaded things we do in our cars taking place _ten thousand feet in the air._ :eek: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tunnel-from-the-us-to-uk-or-europe-possible/228236.md?page=3)