The Oil Drum

(Grin)  When I wrote about the Planetran system yesterday there was some cynicism in the comments about the viability of the concept, and its economics.

For some decades now it has been cheaper and more effective to put transportation underground in cities than trying to drive through roads through them.  Putting the tunnels a bit deeper does not change the tunneling operation itself that much, but puts the tunnel into more stable rock.  The idea of Planetran was sustained for a long time by the thought of putting the corridor up the East coast from Boston to Washington.  Having the train operate at high speed, and from down-town locations, and in a weather-independent location where security could be better ensured has some advantages.  

Evacuating the air removes the air resistance that makes normal transportation more expensive at higher speeds (energy wise).  Thus it is possible to develop a technical solution that will significantly change and reduce the need for oil.  

And to those who say that this is still fiction, I am indebted to Greko, who points out that it will first become a reality in Switzerland While the idea is still developing, it is known as the Swissmetro, and has many features of the Planetran that I described.