Phileas Fogg, the fictional character in Jules Verne's novel "Around the World in Eighty Days," embarked on his journey in 1872. At that time, transportation technology was significantly different from what we have today. If someone were to copy his journey using modern equivalents of the vehicles used, they would likely be able to complete the journey much faster.
To estimate the potential time difference, let's consider the modes of transportation used by Phileas Fogg and compare them to their modern counterparts:
Train: Phileas Fogg used trains extensively during his journey. While trains have become faster over time, the difference in travel time may not be significant in this case. High-speed trains today can reach speeds of around 300 km/h (186 mph), which is comparable to or slightly faster than some trains in the late 19th century.
Steamship: Phileas Fogg traveled by steamship across the Atlantic Ocean. Today, commercial airliners are the primary mode of transportation for long-haul travel. A modern jetliner can cover the distance between Europe and North America in a matter of hours, while a steamship journey would have taken several days or even weeks.
Hot air balloon: Phileas Fogg also used a hot air balloon for part of his journey. Hot air balloons are still in use today, but their purpose is primarily recreational rather than long-distance travel. It's unlikely that a modern traveler would rely on a hot air balloon for a significant portion of their journey due to the limited range and unpredictable nature of balloon travel.
Considering these factors, if someone were to copy Phileas Fogg's journey today using modern equivalents of the vehicles, they could potentially complete the journey significantly faster. Instead of taking 80 days, it's conceivable that the journey could be completed in a matter of days or even less, depending on the specific routing and mode of transportation chosen. The most time-consuming part of the journey would likely be the long-haul flights across the oceans, but even those would be much faster than the steamship crossings of the past.