Putin proposes Russia-Alaska rail tunnel

Bridge-building Vladimir Putin wants tunnel to US

VLADIMIR PUTIN, the Russian president, is to raise plans for a tunnel to link his country with America when he meets his US counterpart, George W Bush, next Sunday.

The 64-mile tunnel would run under the Bering Strait between Chukotka, in the Russian far east, and Alaska; the cost is estimated at $66 billion.

Proposals for such a tunnel were approved by Tsar Nicholas II in the early 20th century but were abandoned during the Soviet era. If finally built, the tunnel would allow rail connections between London and New York.

A Kremlin spokesman confirmed last week that Putin seeks to build “a real bridge” between Russia and America when he meets Bush at the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich has fuelled talk of a massive tunnel by forking out $160 million on the world’s largest drill, which will have a 63ft diameter.

 

There is also a proposal for a bridge across the Bering Strait. Massive and new engineering. Supposedly it will withstand the Arctic winters and the ice movement.

 

I have a tough time seeing a rail tunnel there having any chance to get built. Consider the Chunnel: it was less then half the length, it was built between two very highly populated areas which already had a well-frequented passenger service both via ferry and air (between London and Paris), and there was already quite a bit of trade between the two areas that were joined up. Even with all of this, is the Chunnel a money-making venture? I'll buy the argument that the Chunnel may have been a worthwhile investment overall, taking into account multiple factors, but is the experience there going to motivate people (or Governments) to make an even larger investment in a very remote part of the world? Even if someone made the 64-mile tunnel somehow magically appear, for free, who would pay for the railroad links which would have to be built on land (melting permafrost?) to reach the ends of this tunnel? Sorry if I sound too cynical here.

 

Sounds like a good idea but there is very little population in the area. Rail connections across Alaska and Northwest Canada would also be needed to make the eastern end go somewhere.

 

I find the idea fascinating. This reminds me of a Popular Mechanics article back in the late 80s/early 90s (can't remember year) about a proposed bridge/pipeline across the Bering Strait. I know the cost would be enormous and the connections would have to be improved/built, but it's still fascinating to contemplate.

I doubt this figure is going to be achieved. These things always hit cost overruns because of unanticipated conditions. Look at the Chunnel for a precedent.

Still, I think this could really be fascinating. I am going to guess that if someone decides to do it that they'll also do something about piping petroleum or natural gas or both as well to help pay the bills for the next couple of decades while we still have such fuels.

 

CarlH, Don't worry about being cynical. You are right on in your assessments. No way can this railroad venture ever be profitable and the melting permafrost is probably the most daunting of the tasks. Not to mention the earth quake activity in the Bering Strait area is some of the highest in the world. Cheers, Jim CCRR

 

Having been to Bethel Alaska on business a couple of times, that was my initial reaction. For those who aren't familiar with the issue, the Alaskan panhandle, the region bounded by the Yukon River on the north and the Kuskokwim River on the south (I've been salmon fishing on the Kuskokwim ), is all silt deposits from millions of years of river run-off. This soft silt earth is frozen much of the year... "permafrost". In summer though, it softens and any structures built on it sink unless properly constructed. On the map notice that there are no roads heading west out of Anchorage. The only access to this region is by plane or barges up the rivers in summer.

However, looking at the Alaska map, you can see that crossing from Chukotok to Alaska would bring the line in on a mountainous peninsula, which would probably be stable enough to support railroad tracks across to Fairbanks. Man if they built it, I'd love to take that ride. Then the Trans-Siberian across to Europe.

 

I wonder if Vladimir Putin is trying to find more markets for Russian natural gas and petroleum. I don't know if you'd see much passenger rail on this, at least not initially, but just think of the container trains. This would give the container ships a real run for their money, I think.

Personally, I would LOVE to take a train trip from New York to London, but that's just me.

 

Hey guys, it's a day early for this kind of post! Yes, Putin is our friend, right? :tb-mad:

 

A lot could happen just in the time it would take to plan. We will soon have a new President of Russia, at least nominally. We will also have a new U.S. President next January. Who knows what the chemistry between the two will be? The Canadians will also have to get involved unless it is merely a Russia to Alaska connection. It will be interesting to see how the line gets built across Western Alaska, but the Russian Far East has the same problem. I don't think this will happen anywhere in the next decade, but I could be surprised. I think that expanding trade between North America and Eurasia will eventually make this pencil out.

 

Why would they bother? This is the true April Fools. Why build an elaborate tunnel just to try and sneak a nuke in. Russia could wipe us off the map with a few creative button presses anyway. Why spend $66 billion or more on a tunnel that would be easy to block off on our end?

I am hoping we are all joking, and not nearly this paranoid. :tb-biggrin:

 

I believe I read somewhere that Anchorage is the busiest airport in the world for handling freight. This would add another option to sea and air.