UAE plans to build a bullet train across the sea

The UAE government is considering building a high-speed train line across the Arabian Sea connecting it to the Indian city of Mumbai.

The UAE is assessing the feasibility of an underwater railway connecting the cities of Fujairah and Mumbai. Photo: iStock — The UAE is assessing the feasibility of an underwater railway connecting the cities of Fujairah and Mumbai. Photo: *iStock*

Travelers from Mumbai to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) may in the future opt for alternative means of transport than flying if an ambitious project to link Fujairah and Mumbai via an underwater bullet train becomes a reality. The UAE-based National Advisor Bureau Limited is considering such a project and is preparing a feasibility report, Interesting Engineering reported on October 9.

The UAE is known for its megaprojects, such as the world’s tallest skyscraper and the Palm Islands off the coast of Dubai. But its next big project will be to cross the Arabian Sea and connect India’s financial capital Mumbai to its port city of Fujairah. The plan was first announced in 2018, but Dubai has only recently begun to move forward with construction.

The journey to Dubai is over three hours by plane. By switching to a high-speed train, the UAE hopes to cut that time by at least an hour, and the train will be able to travel at speeds of up to 1,000 km/h. However, the project will not only serve passengers who want to change their travel route, but will also help expand trade with India. The port city of Fujairah will export oil to India while fresh water will be diverted from the Narmada River to the UAE.

The distance between the two sites is less than 2,000 km, but building in deep water is a major challenge. The initial report also suggested that instead of lining the tunnel with opaque colored bricks, the project could use see-through windows for sightseeing. Details on the type of train to be used and the construction process will be discussed in the feasibility report. The project would also require a large investment, at least several billion USD.

The technical feasibility of underwater construction was the primary obstacle to overcome for the Channel Tunnel between the UK and France. The difference is that the Channel Tunnel is only 56 km long and trains travel at a relatively low speed of 112 km/h. By comparison, the UAE project is much more ambitious, seeking to build a track more than 50 times larger and run trains 10 times faster.

An Khang (According to Interesting Engineering )

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