Driving Distance
Seattle -> San Diego = 1256 miles
Amsterdam -> Madrid = 1110 Miles
NittanyLionPlus, you know, the part where the lower 48 is 206 times the size of Switzerland.
45 x 206 = 9,270.
I don't have time to find the current stats on 'unprotected crossings' with similar traffic counts or other critical characteristics; someone should find and provide them here.
I remain of the opinion that a great deal of the money actually 'spent' on crossing protection needs to go into longer-term effective deterrence of that 'intentionally and wilfully ignoring signals' behavior. Where that is practicable. I'm also of the opinion that effective methods of communicating the proximity of a train to an otherwise-unguarded crossing is a big part of what's required -- and that can be done practically at far lower cost than heavy bollards with standardized Holley Rudd lights on them, even if the latter operate on low-maintenance renewable energy.
rdamonAmsterdam -> Madrid = 1110 Miles
I only get 179 miles. Wait - that's Amsterdam, NY to Madrid, NY... ;-)
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Crimea bridge hit
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/photo-shows-crimea-bridge-damage-as-strike-deals-blow-to-russian-logistics/ar-AA1eCUNC?ocid=cf-launch
A troubling news for Ukrain if true. Russia trying to bypass Crieman bridge
Russians build rail links to Mariupol, Volnovakha and Donetsk (msn.com)
The high price of oil and natural gas is fueling their war. These rail lines will cost billions and the ruble is not the world's reserve currency so they can't just print money. So oil and natural gas at high prices gives them a steady flow of revenue for their imperial initiatives. The law of supply and demand takes over. Cut world oil supply by 4%-5%, which has happened, and the price per barrel doubles.
The Russians have problems taking advantage of the higher prices. First sales of refined products have fallen and now Putin has banned such sales. Second they cannot sell most of the Natural Gas they were producing. They haven't had facilities to convert pipeline gas to LNG, because they didn't need them before the EU banned most of their members from buying Russian Natural Gas. Only a small fraction of Russian gas is pipelined to China. Also reported to be happening is that China and India liked the cheaper Russian oil and are resisting paying the world price for gas and when they do buy, it is with their own currency which Russia is having trouble exchanging for US Dollars, as that is what the people who have what Russia needs to buy for their "Special Military Operation", specifically microchips and the like. They also are having to pay inflated prices for such items as the smugglers know that Russia is desperate and in a poor bargaining position.
hard to veerify this report. Russian ground to air defense system hit by freight train.
A Russian air-defense system got wrecked after it fell off a bridge into the path of a moving train, report says (msn.com)
Well, it intercepted something, I guess.
blue streak 1 A troubling news for Ukrain if true. Russia trying to bypass Crieman bridge Russians build rail links to Mariupol, Volnovakha and Donetsk (msn.com)
An apparent bridge explosion in Russia after a tunnel explosion..
Rail havoc in Russia after second explosion in as many days destroys key ‘Devil’s Bridge’ – NV souces (msn.com)
follow up. It happened in Siberia a long way from Ukraine. May cause Russia to expend many resources thruout Russia?
Ukrainian special forces ‘bomb two Russian trains on Siberian railway’ (msn.com)
OvermodI remain of the opinion that a great deal of the money actually 'spent' on crossing protection needs to go into longer-term effective deterrence of that 'intentionally and wilfully ignoring signals' behavior. Where that is practicable.
Shortly after I made that remark, I spent 10 days in Switzerland. I noticed three things about grade crossings.
1) Quad gates were very common, but not in rural areas. The arms themselves were kinda wimpy looking, compared to North American ones. There were also fewer lights arranged in a different, but not too different, pattern. Some examples:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/eBhkc7nFN2cf36B38 This is a common rural one. You only get two lights, with none on the opposite side like you do at the most basic signaled crossing in the US.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/s2TKJyNBZj7eFcXh6 This is a common quad gate non-rural one. You get four lights, but no lights on the opposite side of the track.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/LNzwV4tSA2Heujkq9 As you can see here, they blink the same way though.
2) The lights activate way earlier. I didn't time any of them that I witnessed, but it seemed substantially longer a wait period for the train than in the US.
3) The engineers also have a grade crossing signal. There's a signal pointing at the approaching train that indicates the protection is active and that the train can proceed.
All of that said, the Swiss attitude of rule following and compliance is pervasive and all encompassing. They could put up a single sign that lights up TRAIN and that would get the job done over there.
Freight bridge in southern Ukraine destroyed.
Ukraine Destroys Key Rail Bridge Connecting Occupied Mariupol to Russia (msn.com)
Pannama canal RR getting more business. Maersk is bypassing canal because canal is limiting numver of lifts due to drought.
Maersk to Bypass Panama Canal Via ‘Land Bridge' (msn.com)
Only the Maersk service between the US East Coast and Australia/New Zealand is using the PCRC, at least so far.
JayBeeOnly the Maersk service between the US East Coast and Australia/New Zealand is using the PCRC, at least so far.
Maersk is stopping transit of the Suez account what is happening in the Red Sea with Houthis et.al.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Russia using freight cars for a military barrier line.
Russia Building 20-Mile-Long 'Tsar Train' Barrier in Eastern Ukraine: ISW (msn.com)
Russian reports of higher than normal derailments. With the hot temps in Russia wonder if it could be sun rail kinks?
Russia Hit By Mystery Spate Of Train Derailments | Watch (msn.com)
It could be sun kinks or the work of some very clever Ukrainian saboteurs.
Perhaps the tracks are 155 millimeters off in various locations....
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