Elon Musk has sparked excitement once again with an ambitious and futuristic idea—a transatlantic tunnel that would link New York and London in just 54 minutes. The tunnel, stretching approximately 5,500 kilometers across the ocean, would revolutionize global travel by significantly reducing the time it takes to cross between two major world cities.
Previously, discussions about such a project had raised eyebrows due to the enormous estimated costs, initially pegged at around $25 trillion. However, Musk, known for his bold ideas and entrepreneurial ventures, claims that his tunnel proposal could be realized at a fraction of the cost. In a tweet on X (formerly Twitter), he suggested that The Boring Company, his tunnel construction firm, could build this transatlantic tunnel for a mere $20 billion—a price that’s “1,000 times cheaper” than previous estimates.
This groundbreaking project, if realized, would dwarf even the Channel Tunnel that connects the UK and France. The Channel Tunnel took six years to complete and spans just 23.5 kilometers. In comparison, constructing a transatlantic tunnel would likely take decades, with some estimating it could take as long as 782 years if built at the same pace as the Channel Tunnel.
Despite the technical and financial challenges, Musk’s concept has ignited a wave of excitement and discussion. Potential tunnel designs include submerged tunnels on the ocean floor, elevated tunnels supported by stilts, or floating tunnels anchored to the seabed by cables. Each option would present significant hurdles, both technologically and financially, making the realization of this idea a long-term prospect.
Musk’s idea for a transatlantic tunnel is part of his broader ambition to revolutionize transportation on Earth and beyond. Alongside his work with The Boring Company, Musk’s SpaceX is working on developing a spacecraft that could enable Earth-to-Earth travel through its Starship rocket. This technology could allow passengers to travel between any two cities in the world in under an hour, such as traveling from New York to London in just 30 minutes, or Zurich to Sydney in 50 minutes.
Although many of Musk’s ventures have faced delays or challenges, such as the rollout of fully autonomous Tesla vehicles or the promises of autonomous robotaxis, his ambitious goals continue to capture the public’s imagination. For example, Musk had previously predicted that Tesla would achieve full autonomy by 2017, yet, in 2024, Tesla’s Autopilot system still requires driver supervision. Despite these setbacks, Musk’s forward-thinking ideas continue to drive technological innovation.
Meanwhile, an underwater tunnel is already under construction in Europe. The Fehmarnbelt Tunnel, a 18-kilometer-long road and rail tunnel being built between Denmark and Germany, will be the longest underwater tunnel in the world once completed in 2029. This tunnel is expected to significantly reduce travel times between the two countries and ease congestion on existing transport routes. It will also contribute to reducing CO2 emissions by encouraging a shift from road transport to more eco-friendly rail travel.
While Musk’s transatlantic tunnel remains a distant dream, projects like the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel demonstrate the potential of large-scale infrastructure advancements in transforming global travel. Whether the idea of a $20 billion tunnel connecting New York to London ever becomes a reality remains uncertain, but Musk’s continued focus on innovation and his willingness to tackle seemingly impossible projects ensures that the conversation about the future of global transportation is far from over.
