Could a Russia-US rail tunnel be built?

BBC News ^ | Friday 21 October 2011

[MinorityRepublican]

>

Russian officials have backed the idea of a rail tunnel linking Russia and the US.

It would run under the Bering Strait for 105km (65 miles) - twice the length of the UK-France Channel Tunnel.

The tunnel itself has been estimated to cost $10-12bn and to take 10-15 years to build.

But an additional 4,000km (2,485 miles) of new track would be needed to link it to Russia's rail network, plus another 2,000km (1,243 miles) to connect to existing services on the US side.

[ClearCase_guy]

We need to build an Intercontinental Railroad — just to make it look like Obama knew what he was talking about.

[Darren McCarty]

Interesting idea, but Bering Strait is some nasty waters and that is earthquake country. The part I find interesting about is oil potential.

Also, isn’t the only way to Nome by boat or plane?

[cruise_missile]

Why?

Sell ice cubes to Eskimos?

[de.rm]

Much cheaper & more useful to build powerlines from Greenland & other spots for geothermal steam to electricity.

> "...it would be so cheap you won't even have to meter it!"

[mkjessup]

Snakes on a Train.

[AnalogReigns]

I wasn’t aware that our trade with Russia was large enough to warrant a 10,000,000,000 investment.

Surely very few would want to take a PASSENGER train into far eastern Siberia (except maybe for a day trip)....and spending a month crossing empty Siberia by train into Eastern Europe isn’t exactly most people’s idea of a good use of vacation time.

Let private companies build it if they want...but keep US tax money out of it!

[Clint N. Suhks]

I can see London from my house!

[REDWOOD99]

Is there something in Russia that we need?

[dfwgator]

Is there something in Russia that we need?

Their women?

[Jonty30]

I don’t think it’d take a month, but I agree.

If it’s worth building, it will attract private investment.

[Jonty30]

They are very beautiful and they actually want to be wives and mothers.

[digital-olive]

I’ll take two please.

[dfwgator]

They leave the West behind.

[mamelukesabre]

let russia pay for it

[EQAndyBuzz]

We can’t build water pipelines he US t divert flood waters to drout stricken areas, but tune under the Bering sea is simple.

[Da Mav]

interesting topic for engineers but I can’t imagine the economics working. It would basically link two vast wilderness areas.

[gura]

I’d rather see Billions blown on this than new sidewalks for abandoned neighbourhoods in Detroit.

[UCANSEE2]

We can’t build water pipelines he US t divert flood waters to drout stricken areas, but tune under the Bering sea is simple.

Bet u kant say that 'gin.

[UCANSEE2]

Is there something in Russia that we need?

I'd swap their protestors for ours.