Overmod If there was a mountain range peaking at almost 10,000 feet between Boston and Washington, and we had governments supporting development and operation of modern TBMs and supporting technologies as well as high-speed rail as a national priority, we'd likely have something similar -- perhaps had it much earlier than 2016.
If there was a mountain range peaking at almost 10,000 feet between Boston and Washington, and we had governments supporting development and operation of modern TBMs and supporting technologies as well as high-speed rail as a national priority, we'd likely have something similar -- perhaps had it much earlier than 2016.
Some of the proposals for the LA - Bakersfield segment of the Cal NSR project called for an even longer tunnel. One of the selling points for the Swiss tunnel proect was that the mountain was "only" 30 miles thick at that point and the lack of reasonably low passes.
NKP guy: You are so right, perhaps G.W. Bush may have captured the less than great plan concept when he dismissed "the vision thing," as being counter to good policy/practice. Anthropolists have not presented to us the complete reason why our nation has moved from its history of great accomplishments for the common good to massively skewed spending on war machinery and individual luxury for the few. A sad puzzle indeed. It is becoming clear though that politicians are sniffing out their intrepretations of why this is so and perhaps in a decade or two the pendulum will swing the other way, passing through a sweet spot about mid-way. Hope we survive until then.
NKP guy Is it because it's a Swiss or European engineering achievement? Are we here that provincial? Just imagine the amount of high-fiving that would be going on in this forum if the USA had just built such a tunnel!
I think you are right, though, about the exceptional going out in our engineering. France does something amazing like the Millau Viaduct, and brings it in ahead of time and under budget, while here in Memphis we spend nearly four times as much and screw up and delay every aspect of it, and at the end of it all wind up with fewer and less convenient exits and a road that still goes down to two lanes on sharp curves on a major Interstate with heavy truck traffic.
We'll see if the next generation can recapture some of the spirit of conscious excellence that we used to pride ourselves for having.
Also note that the Swiss were much more willing to pay for this project than a fair number of Americans would be. Few Americans seem willing to pay a higher fuel tax that would in turn pay for a lot of infrastructure maintenance and improvements.
The Hudson River tunnels need help and our politicians dither. What a difference in leadership.
The longest tunnel in the world opens and it doesn't seem to attract nearly as much attention here as does one facet of the opening festivities. Odd.
Is it because it's a Swiss or European engineering achievement? Are we here that provincial? Just imagine the amount of high-fiving that would be going on in this forum if the USA had just built such a tunnel!
Is it because big engineering projects these days seldom if ever seem to happen in the USA for whatever reason? Or maybe because in a country unable to keep up with needed infrastructure repairs, achievements of this kind overseas only remind us of our collective national timidity?
As far as what supposed traffic levels will be, let me ask: Who could have predicted in 1825 at the opening of the Erie Canal, what the immediate pay-off would be? Or in 20 years? But what does history teach us about most engineering achievements of this scale? They pay off.
For many reasons and for many years to come, little Switzerland will be proud of and glad they built this tunnel.
As far as the USA, do we mean that that the Mackinac Bridge is it? Seriously? Are we all done? Nothing else is needed? Not even two short tunnels under the Hudson (at least for 20 years)?
"Make no little plans," indeed.
I thought we were exceptional.
CMStPnP I don't get the folks in underwear throwing flower at each other?
I don't get the folks in underwear throwing flower at each other?
"Art."
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...
Interesting that with all the famous Swiss synchronization they couldn't get the trains to arrive at the portals at the same time...
As for the performance, well, OSHA would have a fit...
There is some debate as to how much use the tunnel will get before the new timetable in December. Only one bore is fully operational and most drivers are not trained for it, so most trains will use the old tunnel. Get your pictures now.
Can somebody explain to me what is going on in this performance?
I figured out that Europeans in prison jumpsuits can't do choreography as well as Michael Jackson's people, and that some people ride flatcars in their underwear. And that at least one photographer has the sense to photograph the train without being distracted by the fireworks overhead.
Beyond that, I need someone from Europe to advise me what the interpretive performance was supposed to be interpreting. Because I didn't get it.
Why can't it be like the cab shots as the French V150 train built up speed and then reached the record? Now THAT was human celebration of high technological achievement at some of its best!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4NU0Tok1T4&t=2m48s 6 hours of TV
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/02/world/europe/gotthard-base-rail-tunnel-switzerland.html?_r=0
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