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Author Topic: Bering Strait Rail Tunnel  (Read 76724 times)

english si

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Re: Bering Strait Rail Tunnel
« Reply #50 on: July 15, 2012, 12:16:21 PM »

It's mostly security stuff required for the tunnel, rather than border controls (though they check your passport anyway, given all the faff).

Unlike ferries, you enter the destination country before leaving, making it a one-stop shop.

Funny you use Waterloo as an example of a regular station where you could catch a Eurostar, given:
1)it stopped having Eurostar trains a few years ago
2)technically Waterloo International was a separate station to Waterloo NR, with the entrance at Waterloo International on the concourse of Waterloo (it had it's own concourse).
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Re: Bering Strait Rail Tunnel
« Reply #51 on: July 15, 2012, 12:43:03 PM »

Some of us don't like the idea of flying (especially these days with the security theater that's more intrusive than crossing an international border).  Even before 9/11, I've heard too many horror stories of lost luggage and annoying passengers.

An undersea by rail line from North America to any other continent would involve the same TSA screening and border controls that you don't like (and most people don't care fore).

Consider another train under the sea that is currently in operation - the Channel Tunnel between Folkestone, England and Calais, France.  In order to use the train either way, you have to pass border controls and show a passport.   Doesn't matter if you are taking the train by boarding at a regular train station (Waterloo in London) or taking your motor vehicle on the "Le Shuttle" train.

The UK is *not* within the Schengen 'borderless' zone of continental Europe and, sine that is an 'external' Schengen border, one must clear customs and immigration inspection to cross it.

Mike
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cpzilliacus

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Re: Bering Strait Rail Tunnel
« Reply #52 on: July 15, 2012, 03:48:16 PM »

It's mostly security stuff required for the tunnel, rather than border controls (though they check your passport anyway, given all the faff).

It's still  a border control.

Unlike ferries, you enter the destination country before leaving, making it a one-stop shop.

There's a similar situation at some airports in Canada for U.S.-bound flights - you pass through U.S. passport control and customs on the ground before boarding the flight to the U.S.  Among other things, this means that the destinations can include domestic-only airports south of the border that do not have facilities for processing passengers arriving from places outside the U.S.

Funny you use Waterloo as an example of a regular station where you could catch a Eurostar, given:
1)it stopped having Eurostar trains a few years ago
2)technically Waterloo International was a separate station to Waterloo NR, with the entrance at Waterloo International on the concourse of Waterloo (it had it's own concourse).

Thank you for the update.

I have not been in London for quite a few years - the last time I was there, Waterloo (International) was the London terminal station for the Eurostar service.
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Re: Bering Strait Rail Tunnel
« Reply #53 on: July 15, 2012, 04:44:26 PM »

The UK is *not* within the Schengen 'borderless' zone of continental Europe and, sine that is an 'external' Schengen border, one must clear customs and immigration inspection to cross it.
Yes, though the French don't typically give a merde about either (unless you have raw meat - though they cannot legally block the import of that).

It's more that Schengen isn't part of the British and Irish borderless area, but unless your passport is not EU/US/Commonwealth/other visa free areas then they don't really look.
It's still a border control.
Only as it's at a border... As a foot passenger, it's identical, if not more lax, than a flight inside the British and Irish travel area, or inside Schengen or the US. The only difference is that they can and will take your biscuits and booze if they reckon you have too much for 'personal use' and not declared it to pay UK tax on it (which can't be right under EU law on free-movement of goods).
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Re: Bering Strait Rail Tunnel
« Reply #54 on: July 15, 2012, 04:52:16 PM »

Some of us don't like the idea of flying (especially these days with the security theater that's more intrusive than crossing an international border).  Even before 9/11, I've heard too many horror stories of lost luggage and annoying passengers.

An undersea by rail line from North America to any other continent would involve the same TSA screening and border controls that you don't like (and most people don't care fore).

Consider another train under the sea that is currently in operation - the Channel Tunnel between Folkestone, England and Calais, France.  In order to use the train either way, you have to pass border controls and show a passport.   Doesn't matter if you are taking the train by boarding at a regular train station (Waterloo in London) or taking your motor vehicle on the "Le Shuttle" train.
While I don't like border controls, they're a given for now, but you shouldn't have to feel like you're guilty until proven innocent to fly (and last I checked, the TSA doesn't care if you have a domestic or foreign flight).  I will not fly as long as the TSA has stuff like naked body scanners, pointless liquids restrictions, taking off of shoes, sexually assaulting people (all the while calling it an "enhanced pat-down"), etc.
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Re: Bering Strait Rail Tunnel
« Reply #55 on: July 17, 2012, 07:35:40 PM »

Some of us don't like the idea of flying (especially these days with the security theater that's more intrusive than crossing an international border).  Even before 9/11, I've heard too many horror stories of lost luggage and annoying passengers.

An undersea by rail line from North America to any other continent would involve the same TSA screening and border controls that you don't like (and most people don't care fore).

Consider another train under the sea that is currently in operation - the Channel Tunnel between Folkestone, England and Calais, France.  In order to use the train either way, you have to pass border controls and show a passport.   Doesn't matter if you are taking the train by boarding at a regular train station (Waterloo in London) or taking your motor vehicle on the "Le Shuttle" train.
While I don't like border controls, they're a given for now, but you shouldn't have to feel like you're guilty until proven innocent to fly (and last I checked, the TSA doesn't care if you have a domestic or foreign flight).  I will not fly as long as the TSA has stuff like naked body scanners, pointless liquids restrictions, taking off of shoes, sexually assaulting people (all the while calling it an "enhanced pat-down"), etc.

Man, I remember buying a Greyhound ticket back in about 2003; they asked me for my name, and I didn't even have to show ID to verify it.  Of course, it would be a different story to cross a border by bus.

Security is only one thing I don't care for at the airport, and I don't find it any more unpleasant than the others.  Crowds, lines, hurrying up to wait, expensive food, cramped quarters onboard...  Other forms of transportation have their downsides too, though, of course.
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Re: Bering Strait Rail Tunnel
« Reply #56 on: July 18, 2012, 10:29:03 AM »

I remember crossing in a coach bus for a school trip in March 2009.  Going into Canada, all the immigration officer did was was ask the usual alcohol/drugs questions.  They didn't even bother processing us or anything.  In fact, I'm wondering if that's what got me referred to immigration when I crossed in May... the officer asked me when the last time I was in Canada, I said three years ago since the last time was this trip, and there's probably no record of me entering Canada for it in the CBSA database!  They probably had to call US customs for record of the return to the US.
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Truvelo

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Re: Bering Strait Rail Tunnel
« Reply #57 on: July 18, 2012, 04:49:03 PM »

I've used the Channel Tunnel car shuttle on a number of occasions. When heading to France all you have to do is show a passport in your hand as you drive past. In fact any document that resembles a passport will get you through. There are random spot checks and I've seen old camper vans being pulled over and customs officials looking inside for anything dodgy. All vehicles drive over a scanner before getting on the train which I suspect detects if there are any stowaways clinging on underneath.

When returning to the UK the passport checks are more intense. They actually look at it and put it under the ultraviolet. Other than that the regime is similar to the outward journey.
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Grzrd

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Re: Bering Strait Rail Tunnel
« Reply #58 on: September 04, 2012, 04:39:25 PM »

The relatively poor Russians can build not one but two major bridges for their biggest city on the Pacific.
I think it might be only some practice and training for some bigger bridge (or tunnel) projects like a Bering Strait crossing. ;)
(above quote from Two new Vladivostok Bridges thread)

One reason for building the Russky Island bridge in Vladivostok was to make a good impression on the delegates in attendance for the APEC meeting this week, and, yes, the Bering Strait Tunnel is being discussed:

Quote
The APEC (Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation) week is underway in the city of Vladivostok on Russia’s Far East. One of the issues on the agenda of the business and political summits is the development of transportation and logistics.
Experts say that Russia may become the key player in this field proposing ambitious projects which are attractive for investments.
The Asian-Pacific region is the most rapidly developing region in the world. In the next few years experts predict a significant growth of the regional countries’ cargo turnover. The region sees the development of new promising deposits and the growth of exports. All this requires expanding the logistic infrastructure, its upgrade as well as building new transportation routes.
Currently, the regional countries are jointly implementing several ambitious projects as part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). China is the most active player developing its speed railways service. But there is one very important task here - connecting the Asian-Pacific region with Europe. There are several options for doing this, Evgeny Kanayev, an expert at the Center of the Asian Pacific region says.
"In the near future the development of two our transportation mega projects can meet the interests of our Asian Pacific partners. The first project is the Northern Sea Route, which will make it possible to reduce time for cargo shipment from Europe to Eastern Asia. The second project is the construction of the tunnel under the Bering Strait. Technically it is quite feasible and economically it is very profitable. It will help to switch some countries and territories, which are far away from the Pacific seaports, to transcontinental shipments. Finally, a possibility of connecting TransSiberian and TransKorean railroads remains." ....

Below is a photo of the Russky Island bridge that accompanies the above article:
« Last Edit: September 04, 2012, 04:48:34 PM by Grzrd »
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Re: Bering Strait Rail Tunnel
« Reply #59 on: September 09, 2012, 12:37:29 PM »

The official position of the U.S. State Department is that it is "not aware" of any Russian plans to build a tunnel under the Bering Strait:
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2011/09/171859.htm
Quote
Question Taken at the SEPTEMBER 7, 2011 Daily Press Briefing
September 7, 2011
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QUESTION: Has the State Department been contacted by Russian authorities regarding a proposed construction project to build a tunnel under the Bering Strait to the United States?
ANSWER: While we are not aware of any plans to construct a tunnel under the Bering Strait, the United States and Russia enjoy close cooperation across the Strait in areas such as environmental protection, historical preservation, and recognition of the unique heritage of indigenous peoples in the region.
(above quote from Bering Strait Bridge and/or Tunnel thread)

The State Department has issued a September 8 Press Release "On Cooperation in the Bering Strait Region" regarding an agreement between Secretary of State Clinton and her Russian counterpart to pursue a Transboundary Area of Beringian specially protected natural territory.  No mention is made of a possible Bering Strait Tunnel, but the agreement is noteworthy because the southern edge of the territory on the Alaskan side, the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve and Cape Krusenstern National Monument in Alaska, might possibly affect a potential rail route from Wales, Alaska eastward and possibly strengthen likely environmental objections to a polimagistral rail tunnel project.
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Re: Bering Strait Rail Tunnel
« Reply #60 on: September 17, 2012, 12:36:38 PM »

Quote
The APEC (Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation) week is underway in the city of Vladivostok on Russia’s Far East. One of the issues on the agenda of the business and political summits is the development of transportation and logistics .... the construction of the tunnel under the Bering Strait. Technically it is quite feasible and economically it is very profitable. It will help to switch some countries and territories, which are far away from the Pacific seaports, to transcontinental shipments.
The State Department has issued a September 8 Press Release "On Cooperation in the Bering Strait Region" regarding an agreement between Secretary of State Clinton and her Russian counterpart to pursue a Transboundary Area of Beringian specially protected natural territory.  No mention is made of a possible Bering Strait Tunnel, but the agreement is noteworthy because the southern edge of the territory on the Alaskan side, the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve and Cape Krusenstern National Monument in Alaska, might possibly affect a potential rail route from Wales, Alaska eastward and possibly strengthen likely environmental objections to a polimagistral rail tunnel project.
I emailed Fyodor Soloview
Quote
According to the transcontinental railway project, it is designed as polimagistral, ie combines rail and roads, power lines, oil and gas pipelines, telecommunications cables ....
Fyodor Soloview
InterBering
www.InterBering.com

I recently emailed Mr. Soloview again and asked him if any significant discussions regarding the proposed tunnel occurred during the recent APEC meeting in Vladivostok.  First, I asked if the creation of the joint Beringia park might have any conceivable effect on the tunnel project.  His response:

Quote
I think that creation of US Russia joint Beringia Park and perspectives to build the interhemispheric railroad and a tunnel under the Bering Strait are not connected with each other. At least at present time.

In terms of general discussions about the tunnel project, he indicated the following (I did not specifically mention China in my question):

Quote
During the APEC meeting China showed a large interest in building the railroad to America and an undersea Bering Tunnel.

Russia and China both seem to be expressing interest in the project.  I wonder if there are any segments in the U.S./Canada private sector that believe it would make economic sense as an investment?

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Re: Bering Strait Rail Tunnel
« Reply #61 on: September 25, 2012, 07:46:14 AM »

I'm confused - isn't this primarily a freight project? Why was it moved to mass transit?
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Re: Bering Strait Rail Tunnel
« Reply #62 on: September 25, 2012, 11:37:43 AM »

Likely because it involves land transport, but not directly involving the history, progress and/or future plans and musings of road infrastructure.

Perhaps 'Transit and Non-Road Transport Infrastructure' might be a better name for this sub-forvm.

Mike
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Re: Bering Strait Rail Tunnel
« Reply #63 on: September 25, 2012, 04:56:23 PM »

It was late, I was tired, I saw "rail."

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Re: Bering Strait Rail Tunnel
« Reply #64 on: October 26, 2012, 11:42:03 AM »

This article puts forth the argument that a 1,632 mile rail connection from Canada to Delta Junction, Alaska may be both economically feasible and a better environmental alternative than the Keystone pipeline and supertanker transport of oil in the Arctic Ocean ... and, put the United States in an advantageous position to build the tunnel:

Quote
... All the latest plans of developers to bring a railroad through to Alaska are therefore based on the idea of incorporating it into a global intercontinental railway project with Russia–together with the construction of a tunnel under the Bering Strait. This would make project construction more profitable for private investors. But even this faces its own difficulties, like the inability of past Russian and U.S. leaders to sign a joint treaty. Finding investors who will pay up to $100 billion for the laying of 2,400 miles of rail through undeveloped regions of Siberia to the Chukotka Peninsula in Russia, plus 3,000 more miles in the U.S. and Canada, and digging a tunnel under the Bering Strait, is also a challenge.
Support for a Canada-Alaska railroad, however, grows along with each new rise in the price of oil, the growing demand in Asia for new oil sources, and the simple fact that Canadian natural resources–especially in the Western Provinces of British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan as well as the Yukon Territory–have difficult access to Pacific ports ....
A double-track, 1,632 mile purpose-built railway would be built from Canada to Delta Junction, Alaska capable of transporting over 4 million bpd of oil products at a total estimated cost of $10.4 billion.
The conservative revenue estimate is $3.5 billion per year, with $2.5 billion of this based solely on oil transport at one million barrels per day. Near Delta Junction, a Canadian railroad would be connected with the single-track Alaskan railroad which is itself now under construction by Kiewit Infrastructure Group. This firm is presently also erecting a bridge over the Tanana River as a part of an 80-mile Northern Rail Extension Project of Alaska Railroad, from the city of North Pole ....
“The two-track, Canadian-Alaska railroad will be built by the year 2018, if we get the required $4.5 million and start working now,”  says Ward Kemerer, G7G Director.
The construction of a Canada-Alaska railroad would have an additional impact on the proposed America-Russia railroad. If this connection happens soon, then the part on the American continent of international track (a 1,300-mile bit between Fairbanks and the Bering Strait) can be completed by 2024–six or more years earlier than the Russian railroad to the coast of the Bering Strait from Yakutsk. That might give the U.S. an opportunity to dig the entire 64-mile Bering Strait tunnel using its own financing and labor force. This could potentially give more control over key aspects such as tunnel maintenance, security, customs and operation schedules–including land on the Russian side to house workers, etc.

I'm not sure how productive it would be to build a tunnel to Russia without Russian cooperation.  :hmmm:

edit

Quote
Fyodor Soloview
InterBering
www.InterBering.com

The above information was initially contained in a press release from Soloview.  The Canada-Alaska rail connection possibility had been previously presented in a June, 2011 slideshow (page 4/9 of pdf):



I'm guessing that the purpose behind the press release is to raise enthusiasm for a feasibility study for the rail ink.
« Last Edit: October 30, 2012, 11:22:03 PM by Grzrd »
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Re: Bering Strait Rail Tunnel
« Reply #65 on: October 26, 2012, 12:09:16 PM »


I'm not sure how productive it would be to build a tunnel to Russia without Russian cooperation.  :hmmm:

very productive.  ask any 6 year old.  though most are building tunnels to China, the idea is pretty similar.
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Re: Bering Strait Rail Tunnel
« Reply #66 on: October 26, 2012, 12:13:29 PM »

I'm not sure how productive it would be to build a tunnel to Russia without Russian cooperation.  :hmmm:

And there's still the matter of the Russian railroad system (and some nations formerly part of the Russian or Soviet empires, including Estonia, Mongolia and others, using Russian imperial gauge (1520 mm, or 59.8 inches)), while the U.S. and Canada use standard (Stephenson) gauge (1435 mm, or 56.5 inches).   
« Last Edit: October 26, 2012, 12:17:09 PM by cpzilliacus »
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Re: Bering Strait Rail Tunnel
« Reply #67 on: October 26, 2012, 02:24:13 PM »

And there's still the matter of the Russian railroad system (and some nations formerly part of the Russian or Soviet empires, including Estonia, Mongolia and others, using Russian imperial gauge (1520 mm, or 59.8 inches)), while the U.S. and Canada use standard (Stephenson) gauge (1435 mm, or 56.5 inches).   
Which - as has been said upthread - isn't a problem for European/Chinese trains to those countries, especially freight trains...
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Re: Bering Strait Rail Tunnel
« Reply #68 on: October 26, 2012, 03:17:19 PM »

And there's still the matter of the Russian railroad system (and some nations formerly part of the Russian or Soviet empires, including Estonia, Mongolia and others, using Russian imperial gauge (1520 mm, or 59.8 inches)), while the U.S. and Canada use standard (Stephenson) gauge (1435 mm, or 56.5 inches).   
Which - as has been said upthread - isn't a problem for European/Chinese trains to those countries, especially freight trains...

I thought that the trucks (bogies outside North  America) on each railroad car transiting Russia were still being swapped-out manually near the border between China and Russia; and again between Russian-gauge territory and European standard-gauge territory in Eastern Europe?

Are you aware of any place where the break-of-gauge is being handled by an automated method?

At the beginning of this YouTube video is a short clip showing the trucks being swapped-out near the border between Russia and China. Looks like a pretty labor-intensive process.
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Re: Bering Strait Rail Tunnel
« Reply #69 on: October 26, 2012, 03:30:03 PM »

I'm not sure how productive it would be to build a tunnel to Russia without Russian cooperation.  :hmmm:

And there's still the matter of the Russian railroad system (and some nations formerly part of the Russian or Soviet empires, including Estonia, Mongolia and others, using Russian imperial gauge (1520 mm, or 59.8 inches)), while the U.S. and Canada use standard (Stephenson) gauge (1435 mm, or 56.5 inches).   

The change in gauge is a relatively small problem compared to building the enormous rail line and tunnel and keeping it open in the winter.  Gauge changes take a little time, but not that much as compared to circling half the Pacific.
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Re: Bering Strait Rail Tunnel
« Reply #70 on: October 26, 2012, 09:03:48 PM »

CN (Canadian National) has already announced that due to the failure to approve the Keystone pipeline, they will be handling substantially increasing volumes of crude oil, likely in unit trains, between the sand-oil fields in northeastern Alberta and refineries in the USA's Gulf Coast region via a routing that is entirely CN (it passes though my home metro area as well as suburban Chicagoland), so it might not be far-fetched to see someone building such a railroad into Alaska.  CN is also investing about USA$35M of their own money to rebuild and restore their dormant ex SOO line between Ladysmith, WI and the Rice Lake, WI area to serve several 'frac' sand mines and processing plants in the Rice Lake area, as well as several million dollars more to replace their 113 year old ex-CNW mainline swing bridge in Oshkosh, WI, which is on the routing that this traffic will use.

Heady days for freight rail in North America!

Mike
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Re: Bering Strait Rail Tunnel
« Reply #71 on: October 26, 2012, 09:08:59 PM »

I'm not sure how productive it would be to build a tunnel to Russia without Russian cooperation.  :hmmm:

And there's still the matter of the Russian railroad system (and some nations formerly part of the Russian or Soviet empires, including Estonia, Mongolia and others, using Russian imperial gauge (1520 mm, or 59.8 inches)), while the U.S. and Canada use standard (Stephenson) gauge (1435 mm, or 56.5 inches).   

The change in gauge is a relatively small problem compared to building the enormous rail line and tunnel and keeping it open in the winter.  Gauge changes take a little time, but not that much as compared to circling half the Pacific.

As I mentioned upthread, since China uses the exact same railroad technical standards as are used in North America (track gauge, coupling, loading gauges, etc) such that equipment in one can directly run in the other, it could well be possible that the line leading up to such a tunnel on the Asian side would be built to those standards and that the break in standards would be wherever the Russian Railways lines meet it.

Mike
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Re: Bering Strait Rail Tunnel
« Reply #72 on: October 27, 2012, 10:26:45 AM »

a routing that is entirely CN (it passes though my home metro area as well as suburban Chicagoland

All along the southbound odyssey, the train pulls out at Kankankee; rolls along past houses, farms, and fields...
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Re: Bering Strait Rail Tunnel
« Reply #73 on: October 27, 2012, 12:04:26 PM »

I'm not sure how productive it would be to build a tunnel to Russia without Russian cooperation.  :hmmm:

And there's still the matter of the Russian railroad system (and some nations formerly part of the Russian or Soviet empires, including Estonia, Mongolia and others, using Russian imperial gauge (1520 mm, or 59.8 inches)), while the U.S. and Canada use standard (Stephenson) gauge (1435 mm, or 56.5 inches).   

The change in gauge is a relatively small problem compared to building the enormous rail line and tunnel and keeping it open in the winter.  Gauge changes take a little time, but not that much as compared to circling half the Pacific.

As I mentioned upthread, since China uses the exact same railroad technical standards as are used in North America (track gauge, coupling, loading gauges, etc) such that equipment in one can directly run in the other, it could well be possible that the line leading up to such a tunnel on the Asian side would be built to those standards and that the break in standards would be wherever the Russian Railways lines meet it.

Given what I know about Russia, I very seriously doubt that its leadership would ever permit a standard-gauge line from China across eastern Siberia to a Bering Sea crossing.
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Grzrd

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Re: Bering Strait Rail Tunnel
« Reply #74 on: February 28, 2013, 11:07:56 AM »

This opinion piece in the Global Times is noteworthy because the Global Times is the newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party.  China's desire to have the tunnel would go a long way toward making the project happen.
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Major joint projects involving the development of Siberia and a tunnel under the Bering Strait could be undertaken given today's technology. Serious and substantial cooperation on international issues of mutual concern must be undertaken.

This Global Times opinion piece is by Clifford Kiracofe, the same individual who authored the above opinion. He opines that the Bering Strait tunnel has the potential to demonstrate long-term economic cooperation between the United States and Russia:

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Washington's so-called reset policy with Russia was a failure in Barack Obama's first term. Will the US take effective steps in Obama's second term to improve relations with Russia, or will the Cold War mentality prevail?
New Secretary of State John Kerry, who has had almost three decades of experience on the influential US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, can break new ground with Russia should the White House decide to make a sincere effort for a reset. 
The moderate Chuck Hagel, who has just become secretary of defense, could also play an important role in a reset ....
But while the Russian side signals a willingness to improve relations on a new basis, Washington continues a Cold War mentality ....
Should obstacles be overcome, however, there are many well known areas for US-Russian cooperation which include counterterrorism, counternarcotics, scientific research, and medical research.
The development of Siberia and large infrastructure projects such as a Bering Strait tunnel are major areas for long range economic cooperation. The recent meteor event certainly provides a basis for cooperation in space research and defense with respect to bodies such as asteroids.

Meanwhile, this opinion piece asserts that the Bering Strait tunnel should be waaaaay down Siberia's priority list:

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Development strategies for Siberia and the Far East focus on initiatives such as rebuilding cities in the Arctic, building a bridge to Sakhalin, or digging a tunnel beneath the Bering Strait.
All of this might be interesting from Moscow’s perspective – except, no more than 160,000 people cross from Sakhalin to the mainland each year, a tunnel to Alaska would cost several times Russia’s annual trade with that American state, and the Trans-Siberian Railway is mainly used to export iron ore and coal .... In my opinion, instead of establishing a new state-owned corporation, the government should take a completely different approach to making Siberia and the Far East prosperous ....

In short, it may be that China and Moscow both have some degree of interest in a tunnel, but that Siberia is wary of the motives of both.



The State Department has issued a September 8 Press Release "On Cooperation in the Bering Strait Region" regarding an agreement between Secretary of State Clinton and her Russian counterpart to pursue a Transboundary Area of Beringian specially protected natural territory.  No mention is made of a possible Bering Strait Tunnel

This January 21 article reports that Russia recently created its Beringia National Park:

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Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed the decree to create the new national park called Beringia, Russia's World Wildlife Fund said. The park will eventually be part of the first US-Russian nature reserve spanning the Bering Strait area, it said .... Russia's Beringia national park will directly touch the US border, although it does not include some of Russia's marine waters in the strait nor the small Ratmanov island, which is a base for a Russian border control station.

Ratmanov Island is also known as Big Diomede Island (hypothetically on the tunnel's route); therefore, the existence of the park probably would not be an impediment to construction of a tunnel.
« Last Edit: February 28, 2013, 12:17:51 PM by Grzrd »
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