I've got the Harry Harrison book, and a good read it is too. Contains all the points mentioned in the Press release. The book was set in an "alternate universe" with the rebel George Washington, having been soundly defeated by the mighty British Empire. Featured some other notable points, including nuclear powered trains (but not travelling through the tunnel), a stop just off Ireland to change trains onto the fast Maglev jobs, modular construction of the floating tunnel sections, and most bizzarely of all, huge prop aircraft powered by pulverised coal, piloted by mustashioed ex RAF Captains, and now run by P and O.
They weren't too keen on Electronic computers either, prefering the more reliable mechanical machines produced by the Babbage Company
Realistically looking aead a good few years, aircraft are inherantly inefficient, using a huge amount of energy just to keep at altitude, and to overcome drag. If energy becomes sufficently expensive a transport method that uses uses no fuel to just keep going in a staight line, could become very attractive. With regenerative braking, energy cost would be very low.
now all we need is a Space Elevator (from Arthur C Clarkes' , the Fountains of Paradise, although he didn't come up with the idea, instead giving credit to a Russian scientist) and we would be laughing.
[This message has been edited by Pdub (edited 28 June 2001).]