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Posted by Overmod on Tuesday, November 29, 2022 8:52 AM

Delicate ecosystem, disrupted by bridge construction, but enormous preparation work for the tunnel staging?

Given the financing, this was something that could have been built at the time of the North River Tunnels.  If I recall correctly, the Transbay Tunnel was designed this way.  This ain't a feat of mega-engineering or even necessary mega-logistics.

I was chuckling at the "explanation" why a bored tunnel at 140' peak depth was infeasible for rail traffic.  Oh dear, no adhesion over 2.5% grade?  No deep approach cuts...like the ones on the Oresund Bridge 'island'... to get to approach depth?

On the other hand, they say they're building this for the equivalent of 7.5B.  How much is the childish revised version of Gateway costing?

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Tuesday, November 29, 2022 2:50 AM

Article on the new tunnel from Denmark - Germany scheduled to complete in 2029.

The Insane Scale of Europe’s New Mega-Tunnel - YouTube

 

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Posted by JayBee on Monday, November 14, 2022 2:56 AM

Passenger trains have restarted between Kyiv in Ukraine and Chisnau in Moldova after being closed for 24 years.

Kyiv - Chisnau

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Monday, November 14, 2022 1:37 AM

London UK - Lyon France 458 airmiles .  Which is faster ?  Plane or train?

Is a flight really quicker than a train? I put it to the test from London to Lyon | Watch (msn.com)

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Posted by BaltACD on Sunday, November 13, 2022 6:12 PM

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New HrSR train [160 KMPH (100 MPH )] starts in India with many differences.

Vande Bharat Express: What makes it different from India's other high-speed trains (msn.com)

Looks like the train pictured is missing a nose cone to cover the coupler.

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Sunday, November 13, 2022 4:33 PM

New HrSR train [160 KMPH (100 MPH )] starts in India with many differences.

Vande Bharat Express: What makes it different from India's other high-speed trains (msn.com)

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Wednesday, October 5, 2022 3:26 PM

The 2013 spanish talgo wreck is finally coming to trial.  Here in the US we thought out court system was slow.

Trial begins in Spain over 2013 train crash that killed 80 (msn.com)

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Posted by Overmod on Saturday, August 27, 2022 12:07 PM

For some reason, the massive tie replacement efforts on DB, and the fatal accident a couple of months ago that caused them, were unknown to me until a few minutes ago.

https://www.railjournal.com/infrastructure/db-estimates-faulty-sleeper-replacement-to-cost-several-hundred-million-euros/?utm_source=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=34682

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 10:20 PM

Euro tunnel passemgers stuck.  No indication how close to one end they were.  Sounds like some emergency rations might need placing every kM or so ???

Passengers stuck for hours inside Eurotunnel (msn.com)

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Posted by BaltACD on Saturday, August 20, 2022 8:18 AM

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by MidlandMike on Thursday, July 28, 2022 7:12 PM

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The question is why will the boring for the NYP Gateway tunneling project be planned to take so much more time for each bore.  Of course boring uner the Hudson will take more time.

The UK tunnel may have been bored in competent rock without water problems.  I believe the Hudson bores will encounter waterlogged unconsolidated sediments under deep hydrostatic pressure.  I would imagine it will be a nightmare to keep the bore relativly water tight.  IIRC they sometimes freeze waterlogged soils to control water entry.

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Posted by Gramp on Thursday, July 28, 2022 1:39 PM

Love the place names in the British Isles. Long Itchington Wood in Warwickshire. 

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Thursday, July 28, 2022 12:28 PM

UK's  HS2 makes 1st tunnel breakthrough.  Several points in article.  1st bore took 7+ months however, the work proceeded around the clock.    Almost 1 mile in length.  About 400 workers so that probably means no more the 150 workers at high activity time?   TBM 125 meters is about 410 feet long.

The question is why will the boring for the NYP Gateway tunneling project be planned to take so much more time for each bore.  Of course boring uner the Hudson will take more time.  Looking at the EIS for the B&P replacement still has a much longer schedule for each bore.  Just makes no sense IMO. 

Britain's HS2 rail project makes first tunnel boring breakthrough (msn.com)

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Posted by BaltACD on Sunday, July 24, 2022 10:17 PM

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UK's  HS2 may be in danger according a UK minister.  Of course we may need to take his statements with a grain of salt.

HS2 is a ‘killer whale’ for next PM, says cabinet minister (msn.com)

If Bean Counters had ruled civilization we would still be in caves as hunter gathers.

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Sunday, July 24, 2022 9:41 PM

UK's  HS2 may be in danger according a UK minister.  Of course we may need to take his statements with a grain of salt.

HS2 is a ‘killer whale’ for next PM, says cabinet minister (msn.com)

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Posted by Paul of Covington on Sunday, July 10, 2022 12:34 AM

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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)

 

   I don't get it.  The article gives very little information about the yacht, but they did mention that it has sails on three masts.  I can't imagine any solid superstructure on the yacht would be over 150 feet high, so they must be talking about the masts.  If so, unstepping the masts should be a fairly routine operation.  Crews on the old square-riggers would remove upper parts of the masts at sea in stormy weather.   Anyway, it's a variation on the old story about building a boat in your basement.

_____________ 

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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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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 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 Monday, June 6, 2022 9:06 PM
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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 BaltACD on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 5:43 PM

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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 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 blue streak 1 on Monday, May 30, 2022 11:40 PM
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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 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 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 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 CMStPnP on Monday, January 10, 2022 10:33 AM

blue streak 1

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 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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