Here is an image that really smells of the future: traveling from Mumbai to the United Arab Emirates not through the sky, but through the depths of the Indian Ocean, aboard an ultra-fast train. Find yourself immersed in an underwater world, observing marine life through large transparent windows as the landscape rushes by. What a stuff, right?
A bold vision
The UAE is no stranger to projects that challenge convention and redefine the limits of engineering. After starting (and restarted) the construction of the world's tallest skyscraper and the iconic Palm Islands off the city of Dubai, are now aiming for an even bolder feat: an underwater train crossing the Arabian Sea.
The project, which was initially proposed in 2018, aims to connect the port city of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates with Mumbai, India's financial capital. But it is not just an alternative means of transport to the plane. This train has the ambition to reduce the travel time by at least an hour compared to the flight, reaching dizzying speeds of 1.000 km/h.
Fujairah and Mumbai: more than a train, a bridge between nations
In addition to serving passengers, this project has a broader vision. The Emirates sees this train as a means to expand bilateral trade with India. Fujairah, with its strategic port, will export oil to India and, in return, receive fresh water from the Narmada River. A symbiosis that further strengthens the ties between the two nations.
Building an underwater train is no walk in the park. The distance between Fujairah and Mumbai is less than 2.000 km, but building in deep water presents immense challenges. However, the engineers not only want to overcome these challenges, but also to offer a unique experience to passengers. Instead of building an opaque tunnel, they are considering using transparent “windows” to offer stunning views of marine life.
Investments and future prospects
Naturally, a project of this scale will require significant investments, probably several billion dollars. But for Emiratis, money may not be the main obstacle. The real challenge will be technical feasibility. Of course, if we think about the Channel Tunnel that connects England and France, we know that building underwater tunnels is possible. The difference here is ambition: a project 50 times bigger and a train 10 times faster.
A submarine train between Mumbai and the Emirates could not just be a dream, but a leap forward for transportation. How about? Jules Verne, move.
