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China proposes high speed rail from China to the US
- Thread starter Blablurn
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SwiftDeath
Member
"Cheap" in that it would fundamentally change the shipping paradigm for almost all major chinese manufacturers exporting goods to the US. Not cheap as in it costs 20 bucks to build a 200KM tunnel under the pacific
I don't think any government is looking at a project like this and going "profitable in 2 years
"Yeah no
Sectorseven
Member
Nah, it's great.
I take the Beijing Shanghai line about twice a month and it's awesome, much better than flying.
chickdigger802
Banned
Sectorseven
Member
King Cobra
Banned
Damn, I already had my pocket book out.
This project is unlikely, but US safety and labor standards come into play once it involves the US.
It may surprise people to know that Chinese state construction companies are involved in major bridge and subway projects in the US:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/11/n...-involved-in-new-yorks-public-works.html?_r=0
http://www.globalconreview.com/news/china-construction-america0-wins-0new-0jersey-bri/
It may surprise people to know that Chinese state construction companies are involved in major bridge and subway projects in the US:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/11/n...-involved-in-new-yorks-public-works.html?_r=0
http://www.globalconreview.com/news/china-construction-america0-wins-0new-0jersey-bri/
I don't. How much would it cost? Break it down for me.
Not Spaceghost
Spaceghost
Unless maintenance and fares are significantly cheaper I don't really see the purpose of this.
Though honestly, I'd believe that paying for the energy cost to run a full trip would be cheaper than paying for a full tank of jet fuel.
But maintaining the rail way? Jeez, that can't be cheap at all, especially not when the current cost of 1 mile of rail road track being closer to 200 million.
Though honestly the true point of this would be a purely political motive, to show solidarity with the United States.
Though honestly, I'd believe that paying for the energy cost to run a full trip would be cheaper than paying for a full tank of jet fuel.
But maintaining the rail way? Jeez, that can't be cheap at all, especially not when the current cost of 1 mile of rail road track being closer to 200 million.
Though honestly the true point of this would be a purely political motive, to show solidarity with the United States.
I'll raise my hand as a person missing the point. Care to enlighten me? This would be slower than an airplane and more expensive than a boat, and would have an eleven figure price tag.
Vulcano's assistant
Banned
this will feature in Bond films 25 to 30
Would be pretty cool. Our country needs big ass projects like this, we haven't built anything cool in like 30 years. No way it will happen. We can't even get coast to coast high speed rail here. Maybe there will be a chance for big projects like this if politics allow it 5-10+ years from now. I want to see coast to coast rail before we build a direct line to China.
"Cheap" in that it would fundamentally change the shipping paradigm for almost all major chinese manufacturers exporting goods to the US. Not cheap as in it costs 20 bucks to build a 200KM tunnel under the pacific
I don't think any government is looking at a project like this and going "profitable in 2 years
Yeah no
And few governments like to invest in projects that will only start to have a positive impact long after they've left office.
No idea. But I'd assume it would be by far the most expensive projet ever considering you have to build the longest tunnel in the world, under the sea, in a very geologically active region. Then you have to build thousands of km of track in the arctic on the permafrost. Then you have to expropriate thousands of land owners in North America, a process that takes years. You also have to deal with aboriginal groups up there. Then you have to maintain all of this.
Add the fact that the countries involved are not exactly the best of friends so it'd be a political mess.
"Murder on the orient express 2-8" are also already in the works
Rawket Lawnchair
Member
I should add, the Channel Tunnel is only has only 23.5 miles of tunnel under the sea, and it cost £4.65B ($7.9B) and that was in 1994.
Also interestingly, two of the huge moles they use to dig the tunnel are buried in the wall down there. It cost less to turn 90 degrees and drill deep enough to cover them up than it would have to remove them.
Also interestingly, two of the huge moles they use to dig the tunnel are buried in the wall down there. It cost less to turn 90 degrees and drill deep enough to cover them up than it would have to remove them.
One underwater H bomb would put a halt to that foolishness.
Massive Duck. C.M.
Banned
Something Wicked
Member
It'd be more like a twelve figure price tag, and a high-speed train line going through Siberia, Alaska, and northern Canada would a complete death-ride for about 8 months of the year. Hell, a moose or bear on the tracks might derail the thing. Cargo ships are more economical and likely able get from Shanghai to Seattle faster than the a freight train going this route as well.
Anyone could going "Aw, we need infrastructure projects like this!" should have to wear a dunce cap for the day... or at least be temporarily double junior-ed, which means you have to sleep in the attic with blamespace, and I heard he's already had quite a bit of Pepsi today.
I thought they just copy German high-speed trains
Additionally, the Channel tunnel didn't require much land to be purchased which is where the real cost comes from. Not many NIMBYs living in the middle of the English Channel. I guess there aren't too many in the middle of Siberia/Alaska either, but I'm sure there are plenty on the West cost of the US.
HS1, the link between the Tunnel and London, cost an additional £5.8bn for 67 miles, and a lot of that had to be tunneled underneath the city.
NeededSleep
Member
Amazing! Would love to a trip on it, if it ever becomes true.
SwiftDeath
Member
Of all the major governments of the world I could easily see the Chinese being the most long-term thinking considering the power stays within the same "party's" hands. Again I don't necessarily think that China will go full-bore behind the project but I do think the Chinese government is the best situated to try and actually get it started between them, the US, and Russia.
There would however be instant and positive effects on China's GDP once completed and that is the point of why China would be interested in the venture to begin with . To continue the growth of their country
But I digress, your original comment simply misinterpreted what I meant when I called it cheap so I think we understand each other now
Yeah yeah, I remember it was good. I just forgot the name, haven't watched it in a while been trying to find it.
I love the concept of a intergalactic space train
I was slightly disappointing that the train proposed, wasn't the space train.
Under the earth train sounds a bit scarier than space train
Vigilant Walrus
Member
Is there a kickstarter for this. I'll bid.
sonikokaruto
Banned
trains good planes bad
choo choooo
choo choooo
ChubbyHuggs
Member
davepoobond
you can't put a price on sparks
only a 10% chance to die during an earthquake
It would be more like 2 hours, but still. Wouldn't want to get stuck in middle.
They take 2 weeks to a month.
Host Samurai
Member
As much as I hate flying and airplanes, this sounds even more terrifying.
brb terrorists
brb under the ocean
brb natural disasters like earthquakes
brb mechanical problems under the sea.
Sounds like a nightmare
brb terrorists
brb under the ocean
brb natural disasters like earthquakes
brb mechanical problems under the sea.
Sounds like a nightmare
Yup.
Angry Grimace
Two cannibals are eating a clown. One turns to the other and says "does something taste funny to you?"
Why not just take a plane
well, a high speed train fare from Beijing to Shanghai is around 600 renminbi (around 95 usd). That's almost a 5 hour ride covering 1300km.
A 2 day ride covering this route should be more than 1,000 USD, which it makes it pointless since you can travel on a plane for less than that in 12 hours.
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