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Why is it so hard to build an airport?

construction-physics.com

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Re: Why is it so hard to build an airport?

#511

Post by dukeyukey »

newhotelowner wrote: post #255
perlgeek wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> One of the interesting ideas [...] is to run high-speed rail to Moses Lake Airport in Central Washington and just expand there. While reading this article, I thought about something like that too. Build an airport quite a while away from the big city, and provide a high-speed, maybe even maglev train there. Make it free for customers. Also, make it very inconvenient for passengers and staff to approach the airport…

I don't think you ever traveled international or your plane got delayed or cancelled. I don't want to carry 4 big bags in the train when I travel international I don't want to travel 30 miles if my plane get cancelled.

It works exactly like that in London. All the airports (other than City) are quite far out, so everyone takes the Tube there. And it works.

Re: Why is it so hard to build an airport?

#512

Post by dukeyukey »

throwway120385 wrote: post #492
dml2135 wrote: post #380

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I realize not everyone can just pack a carry-on, but as one of those types, traveling with "4 big bags" anywhere just seems insane to me. What do you bring that takes up so much space?

Hiking gear.

Isn't a big thing about hiking, that you want to hike as light as possible?

Re: Why is it so hard to build an airport?

#513

Post by dukeyukey »

rangestransform wrote: post #446
mdasen wrote: post #346

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I certainly understand that sentiment, but a ton of people commute 30 miles daily (or more). Even if you live "near an airport", you probably live 15+ miles from an airport. Tottenham London to Heathrow is 24 miles by car. The British Museum to Heathrow is 19 miles. Columbia University on the Upper West Side to JFK is 17 miles. DC to Dulles is 26 miles. Downtown Denver is 25 miles to the airport. SF to SFO is 14 mile…

I will vote against whoever tried to make my flights less convenient

Then the new airport will never get built, it'll get horribly congested, and your flights will still be less convenient. Probably by quite a lot too.

Re: Why is it so hard to build an airport?

#514

Post by tbillington »

ajxs wrote: post #509
joegibbs wrote: post #508

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Melbourne’s airport is very annoying when compared to Sydney. To get to the CBD you have to go and stand outside to wait for a bus that comes every ~15 minutes and takes half an hour to get there (or pay an exorbitant price for a taxi or Uber), whereas in Sydney you’ve got a direct train that gets to the city in 15 minutes.

It's been a while since I caught the train to or from Sydney airport but, in true Sydney fashion, it's privatised and costs an absolute fortune. From memory it costs more than Melbourne's SkyBus.

Just checked, $17.00! ($11USD)

Re: Why is it so hard to build an airport?

#515

Post by dukeyukey »

KineticLensman wrote: post #298
dabeeeenster wrote: post #269

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Heathrow has had the Heathrow express train for years and years, and now also has the Elizabeth line; both very quick to get into C London.

> Heathrow express train for years and years, and now also has the Elizabeth line; both very quick to get into C London. Yes, my mistake. Haven't tried the Elizabeth line. These do help if you are travelling to / from London but getting to Heathrow from the South West remains challenging. My nearest station is Brockenhurst (which although small is on a London mainline). It's 80 miles by road, or by rail, a 2h 10 minu…

Elizabeth Line is fantastic, absolutely game changer for going East-West.

Re: Why is it so hard to build an airport?

#516

Post by wkat4242 »

com2kid wrote: post #461
pbsladek wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If flying into NRT and on the way to Tokyo, ~$200ish for the taxi ride. Ooops.

An uber from Sea-Tac airport into Seattle can easily reach $80, and almost $100 with tip. Given how far NRT is from Tokyo, $200 doesn't seem too bad...

€60-80 from Paris de Gaulle also. Or a really slow RER ride through some really bad areas with all your luggage.

Re: Why is it so hard to build an airport?

#517

Post by wkat4242 »

tbillington wrote: post #514
ajxs wrote: post #509

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's been a while since I caught the train to or from Sydney airport but, in true Sydney fashion, it's privatised and costs an absolute fortune. From memory it costs more than Melbourne's SkyBus.

Just checked, $17.00! ($11USD)

In Australia that's not cheap :)

And it's a bit stupid because the stations before and after the airport are the normal cheap price.

Re: Why is it so hard to build an airport?

#518

Post by wkat4242 »

dukeyukey wrote: post #511
newhotelowner wrote: post #255

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think you ever traveled international or your plane got delayed or cancelled. I don't want to carry 4 big bags in the train when I travel international I don't want to travel 30 miles if my plane get cancelled.

It works exactly like that in London. All the airports (other than City) are quite far out, so everyone takes the Tube there. And it works.

You even have to take the tube if you want to go from one terminal in Heathrow to another :) well or a bus or something but usually walking isn't an option.

Re: Why is it so hard to build an airport?

#519

Post by bschwindHN »

masklinn wrote: post #208
ruszki wrote: post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Taxi is not the main way to leave airports in large part of the world.

It definitely is not for narita, NEX brings you to Tokyo in an hour.

Or the Keisei Skyliner to Nippori Station (on the Yamanote line) in 40 minutes.

Re: Why is it so hard to build an airport?

#520

Post by thaumasiotes »

walthamstow wrote: post #111
_fizz_buzz_ wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, it is basically always is a bit pointless without context. Same with e.g. Paris. Paris itself is "tiny". But Île-de-France (the Paris region) has over 12 million people.

Another one: just 7000 people live in the City of London

That's not an example; you're just taking advantage of your hapless interlocutor's assumption that you're speaking English.

The City of London and the city of London are distinct legal entities.

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