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World's longest and deepest rail tunnel to open in Switzerland

bbc.com

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Re: World's longest and deepest rail tunnel to open in Switzerland

#3
"... longest and deepest rail tunnel ..." and "... delivered on time and within budget ..."

Only in Switzerland, I guess. :)

I wish there were better write ups of how the planning for this came together and what differs from other somewhat similar huge projects.

Re: World's longest and deepest rail tunnel to open in Switzerland

#5
This is $12.5b and 17 years for a 35 mile tunnel through solid rock. Seattle's transit plan is $50b, 25 years, and laying tracks on grade. Probably about the same number of miles.

http://seattletransitblog.com/2016/03/24/st3-draft-plan-over...

Re: World's longest and deepest rail tunnel to open in Switzerland

#6
post #3

"... longest and deepest rail tunnel ..." and "... delivered on time and within budget ..." Only in Switzerland, I guess. :) I wish there were better write ups of how the planning for this came together and what differs from other somewhat similar huge projects.

"delivered on time"

It's even better. They are about one year ahead of schedule.

Re: World's longest and deepest rail tunnel to open in Switzerland

#7
post #3

"... longest and deepest rail tunnel ..." and "... delivered on time and within budget ..." Only in Switzerland, I guess. :) I wish there were better write ups of how the planning for this came together and what differs from other somewhat similar huge projects.

There is a bit on wikipedia[1] (more in the german version).

The project wasn't with out Problems but because of such strict planning they could be solved. For example one of the TBM's got stuck for months, another issues such as sub contractors delivering fraudulent materials also had to be dealt with. [2]

Although the Swiss part went well there are issues with the connection in Germany and Italy. Some projects in Italy haven't even started yet and one part Switzerland is now paying for just to get the trains through.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotthard_Base_Tunnel [2] http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/wissen/natur/was-die-tunnelbauer...

Re: World's longest and deepest rail tunnel to open in Switzerland

#9
post #3

"... longest and deepest rail tunnel ..." and "... delivered on time and within budget ..." Only in Switzerland, I guess. :) I wish there were better write ups of how the planning for this came together and what differs from other somewhat similar huge projects.

just to be fair, during the NEAT project the budget has been adjusted several times.

Re: World's longest and deepest rail tunnel to open in Switzerland

#10
post #3

"... longest and deepest rail tunnel ..." and "... delivered on time and within budget ..." Only in Switzerland, I guess. :) I wish there were better write ups of how the planning for this came together and what differs from other somewhat similar huge projects.

This is what I noticed most too; then I wondered how it compares with Crossrail. (Obviously I imagine tunneling under London is vastly different than under a mountain.)
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