This has been kicked around for years. With a connection Asia to North American and a couple of less complex connections you could train trasport from the south tip of Africa to the South tip of South America. But gee who is going to pay for all this, and is being this well connected really a good idea? Adam
Yes, but they refuel in Anchorage. And I'd guess that loads can be broken out and redistributed depending on destination there too.
A quick glance, and I didn't spot any official stats for 2007. But for 2006, several sites show: 1- Memphis 2- Hong Kong 3- Anchorage 4- Seoul Boxcab E50
I don't see how we're not already well connected. This just give an additional transportation option that doesn't currently exist. I also don't know how a tunnel to the Russian Far East is a bad idea. We may not care much for Putin, but I bet a lot of Russians aren't real keen on Bush, either. That's politics, and this is a discussion board about trains and railroading. I had thought that perhaps more people would find this idea fascinating, kind of like how going to Mars is fascinating.
It's a fascinating idea, but unlike the Chunnel (and its various issues), a tunnel under the Bering Strait would be crossing over a massive subduction zone (this means Richter level 6 and higher earthquakes folks!). I wouldn't want to be in it when a plate shifts....*shiver*
That's what they call an "engineering challenge." :tb-biggrin: Lots of the west coast of North America (for that matter, most of the Pacific Rim) is affected by plate tectonics. They figured out how to run the BART under San Francisco Bay. I am sure the engineering is available. Adam
My skepticism is in it's cost. And ability to be built, with any margin of safety. We still can't make above ground structures completely safe for any seismic events. So how they'd do the same below masses of earth and water, in that troubled area, is a huge unknown. I saw a show on Discovery Channel last year. About a trans-Atlantic rail tube. It is theorized to be suspended within the ocean. I'd almost believe that would work better. But, then we get back to cost. Boxcab E50
I heard this project is second on Russia's massive new economic infrastructure investment plan, right after their Cableway to the moon. HAHAHA!!!!
Siberia has some of the largest deposits of oil and natural gas in the world. Some say more oil is present in Siberia than what is currently in the Arabian Gulf. With $4.00/gal gas here, maybe $66 Billion wont look too bad to the oil companies. Siberia is almost the last unexplored frontier on earth and it also has untapped reserves of metals and minerals, etc. As for some of the security concerns mentioned: If you look under your bed, you will find that the Russian bogeyman is a mere shadow of his former self. He is curled up in a corner, whimpering and barely able to sustain his own bodily functions. Instead you will probably find a purring Chinese kitty looking at you with acquisitive eyes and calmly picking his teeth with sharpened claws. Russia probably stands to gain a lot from a venture like this and if the engineering challenges can be met, I'm sure it can be mutually beneficial to both the US and whats left of the Russian Bear.
Actually Siberia is being heavily explored. After our timber industry here was murdered, I watched trucks loaded with mill equipment heading west to be shipped across the Pacific. A lot was going to Vladivostok. That was almost ten years ago. I heard a national radio news broadcast last week. Which mentioned this tunnel idea. Believe it was ABC. Anyhow, they were puzzling over the concept. And essentially were of the opinion it was a no go. For cost, difficulty, and security. Putin has not exactly been friendly toward us in many aspects. That's how he's built his power base. Russia remains top ten in size of it's regular Army, #3 in Navy, and #1 in size of Air Force. Plus who knows what else? Discounting them is dangerous by itself. Remember that a rattler without a rattle is still a potentially deadly rattler. It would be fascinating to see this project move ahead. To follow how the rail system on our side of the Pacific was altered, and new lines built. Boxcab E50
