An expansion joint for flexibly joining two tube segments for producing a tube for an evacuated tube transport system (ETT), wherein the expansion joint includes two annular rims and an annular flexible and airtight sleeve for rendering the expansion joint airtight wherein the sleeve includes two annular bead sections connected by an annular flexible carcass wherein each annular bead section includes a bead wire, and wherein the bead sections are designed to airtightly co-operate with rims that are fixed to the outside perimeter of each of the tube segments, wherein the rims are fixed at, or close to the opening of the tube segments.

An expansion joint is formed from a plurality of layers comprising a ring tie-in ply, a pair of arch rings at opposing transition points, two body plies, with inverted bias cut angles between about 48 to 60, where about is typically plus or minus 1 degree. The arch geometry is such that the arch has an axial length C between the transition points and an inner surface arch circumference length of A between the transition points in a neutral state, such that the maximum compression distance for the expansion joint is the length C, the maximum elongation distance for the expansion joint is a length (AC), and a maximum lateral deflection length for the expansion joint is a length Y.