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Posted by BaltACD on Thursday, November 5, 2020 8:39 AM

blue streak 1
The Brenner base tunnel construction is in a 1 billion Euro dispute.  The subcontractor for a section of the tunnel has been served with a notice of termination.  However the sub contractor has refused to continue construction on its segment as it believes the tunnel liner is too thin for the loads predicted.  

So either the original design is faulty or the sub has calculated wrongly or maybe a combination of both ?  I can see why each side has much to loose in reputation if they are wrong.  Plus liability of both is also consideration if there is a failure in the future with the present design.

Maybe an independent design review ?

https://www.railjournal.com/infrastructure/legal-challenge-looms-after-e966m-brenner-base-tunnel-contract-cancelled/ 

Bean counters vs. Engineers 

Better order some popcorn this will be a long one.

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Saturday, January 9, 2021 7:37 PM

Brenner base tunnel progress or lack of progress.  tunnel  expected to be in service 2028 ?  Notice the 90 degree tun to the east and the Emergency tunnel / station at that location.

BBT SE (bbt-se.com)

Brenner Base Tunnel - Wikipedia

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Saturday, April 3, 2021 3:27 AM

A blog about China HSR development all since 2008.

The Unstoppable Growth of China's High-Speed Rail Network (theb1m.com)

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Sunday, April 11, 2021 4:22 PM

France  in the process of banning flights between cities that can be covered by rail in less than 2 - 1/2 hours.  Title of link slightly misleading as proposal has not completely cleared the legislative process.

French lawmakers approve a ban on short domestic flights | Reuters

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Friday, April 16, 2021 10:22 PM

good article on how to get around on Japan's railway system.. Many common sense items but also info about the Japan rail pass.  One thing about the pass that was not clear is if you can buy it in the US ?

How to Navigate Japan’s Railway System (msn.com)

EDIY  Link to how to purchase pass in US or in Japan.

JAPAN RAIL PASS: From purchase to travel | JAPAN RAIL PASS

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Sunday, April 18, 2021 4:28 PM
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Posted by BaltACD on Sunday, April 18, 2021 7:54 PM

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Was the Ever Given's Suez Canal pilot acting as the Engineer?[/sarcasm]

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Posted by Overmod on Sunday, April 18, 2021 10:21 PM

BaltACD
Was the Ever Given's Suez Canal pilot acting as the Engineer?[/sarcasm]

As so many have pointed out here over the years, you can't steer a train off its tracks...

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Posted by BaltACD on Monday, April 19, 2021 7:12 AM

Overmod
 
BaltACD
Was the Ever Given's Suez Canal pilot acting as the Engineer?[/sarcasm] 

As so many have pointed out here over the years, you can't steer a train off its tracks...

A wind storm can do it!

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Friday, May 14, 2021 8:31 PM
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Posted by blue streak 1 on Friday, June 4, 2021 8:42 AM
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Posted by blue streak 1 on Saturday, November 6, 2021 1:31 AM

UK government having difficulties due to decrease of paying trains.  Putting pressure on operators to reduce maintenance among other items.

Rail’s growth agenda evaporates as Treasury takes control | Rail Business UK | Railway Gazette International

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Wednesday, December 15, 2021 10:16 PM

Nigh Jet starts Paris <> Vienna service with 10 car train.

Départ du train de nuit Paris - Vienne - YouTube

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Saturday, December 18, 2021 12:50 AM

EU is going to make changes to increase train travel.  That includes higher speeds and more cross border traffic.  One big problem identified was when tracks were separated from operting companies the track owners jacked up prices to make big profits.  Cannot remember where but many track chargges went up 300%.

Faster trains and cheaper tickets to boost European rail travel in new strategy | Rail transport | The Guardian

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Saturday, December 18, 2021 10:13 PM

Laos is in trouble since rail line to China has become operational.

Laos opens scenic railway built on a mountain of Chinese debt (msn.com)

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Tuesday, January 4, 2022 10:02 AM
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Posted by blue streak 1 on Monday, January 10, 2022 2:02 AM

Check out slide 17 worlds highest railway bridge in India.

26 amazing train facts that might surprise you (msn.com)

 

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Posted by CMStPnP on Monday, January 10, 2022 10:33 AM

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Check out slide 17 worlds highest railway bridge in India.

26 amazing train facts that might surprise you (msn.com)

 

Wow!, I wonder what the "ride on the roof tickets" will sell for on that line?

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Tuesday, January 11, 2022 12:49 PM

UK's HSR-2 construction uncovers ancient Roman town.

Vast Roman town uncovered along UK high-speed railway route (msn.com)

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Thursday, March 17, 2022 11:29 AM

Japan JReast bullet train suffered a derailment due to earthquake  Note picture train derailed almost inline to tracks.  Says something?

Earthquake derails Japan's bullet train, cuts supply chains - Nikkei Asia

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Saturday, April 30, 2022 7:39 PM

Going on a night train from EU to non EU country?  do not expect to get much sleep!  Close enough to Ukraine to get the idea.

I took the $32 overnight train from Romania to Moldova. You probably shouldn't. (msn.com)

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Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 6:08 PM

Video about a non-crossing vehicle accident in England in the early 2000's.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArD51I4aAH4

 

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Monday, May 30, 2022 11:40 PM
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Posted by blue streak 1 on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 5:08 PM

Here is an update on the German - Denmark rail and auto tunnel. This tunnel is built by building tunnel sections, floating in place, sinking into a ditch that has been dredged out, and connected.  Not said is how connecting will be accomplished. Puzzeled if divers do work how bottoms of sections are to be connected. 

Article states each section has waterproof bulkheads. Maybe have some kind of mechanism to pull a section against Bulkhead. Operate bolts that seal sections together. Then remove bulkheads between sections. Then first connected section becomes next to connect to.  Rinse and repeat.

builder may then be able to reuse bulkheads?        

World’s Longest Immersed Tunnel Being Built Between Denmark And Germany Hits Milestone (msn.com)

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Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 5:43 PM

blue streak 1
Here is an update on the German - Denmark rail and auto tunnel. This tunnel is built by building tunnel sections, floating in place, sinking into a ditch that has been dredged out, and connected.  Not said is how connecting will be accomplished. Puzzeled if divers do work how bottoms of sections are to be connected. 

Article states each section has waterproof bulkheads. Maybe have some kind of mechanism to pull a section against Bulkhead. Operate bolts that seal sections together. Then remove bulkheads between sections. Then first connected section becomes next to connect to.  Rinse and repeat.

builder may then be able to reuse bulkheads?        

World’s Longest Immersed Tunnel Being Built Between Denmark And Germany Hits Milestone (msn.com)

Both the Harbor Tunnels across Baltimore Harbor were built by the same techniques.  The original tunnel was completed in 1958.  The second tunnel known as the Fort McHenry Tunnel was completed in 1985.  

To my mind, the B&O, Chessie System and CSX all missed opportunities to piggyback construction of a rail tunnel to replace the Howard Street Tunnel with the construction of both of these tunnels.  Had they constructed something with the original tunnel it likely would have been clearance restricted as shipping containers let alone double stacked containers had yet to be invented.

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Posted by rdamon on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 6:06 PM

They used this for the Ted Williams tunnel for the big dig.

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Monday, June 6, 2022 9:06 PM
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Posted by BaltACD on Monday, June 6, 2022 9:35 PM

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Other than cars on the ground and dead and injured, the article did not communicate much in the way of real information as to what actually happened and why.

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Saturday, June 11, 2022 10:45 PM

HS2 in the UK is building several artifical tunnels.  Will be built by cut and cover.

Work starts on unique HS2 tunnel that will blend railway into local landscape in first of its kind in UK (msn.com)

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Saturday, July 9, 2022 12:17 AM

Rotterdam lift bridge may not be dismanteled for Bezos super yacht.  Since the yacht is too tall why not just fillet it and put it back together later?

Rotterdam Won't Dismantle Historic Bridge to Let Jeff Bezos' $500 Million Superyacht Pass (msn.com)

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