Rumor: High-speed tube travel concept in the works

[backscatter712]

32. Sort of. The point is to eliminate air drag.

The train itself would most likely be maglev, like China's high-speed trains.

The difference is that the maglev train would be riding in a loooong tube that's had all the air pumped out, so the train has no air resistance. That's what enables it to zoom along at 4,000mph.

My impression is that it's physically plausible, but insanely expensive. The tubes would have to be nearly curve-free. So you've got a route to dig between Chicago and LA? Over the Midwest Plains, it's probably not too hard. Once you hit the Rocky Mountains? You can't switchback up over the mountains or ride through canyons and valleys and mountain passes. Any curve is Bad at 4,000mph. If anything's in the way, you've got to get it out of the way. Which means lots of tunnels. And lots of expense.