Re:Maglev Train Seen Making Washington-to-Baltimore Trip at ...
by incision on Wednesday October 22, 2014 @12:35PM
(#8493473)
>"The Silver Line is pretty expensive for what it is, but I think you're overstating it. If I understand the Wikipedia page correctly, the $6.8 billion figure is for the full 23 mile extension, not just the 11.6 miles built so far."
You're right, I did mistate the length.
In general though, I think you're misunderstanding my thrust here. You're talking about value, I don't think this project is a good value at all, quite the opposite [1].
I'm just thinking about engineering and construction...
The Silver Line is a demonstration that building 23 miles of 45 mph commuter rail line costs at least $6.8B despite the benefit the benefit of 40 years, 100+ miles and 90 stations worth of experience doing the same.
Given that, actually building a first of it's kind 40 mile 300 mph rail line through the same sort of aerial and tunnel requiring [2] suburban counties around DC for 'only' $10B seems completely implausible.
You're right, I did mistate the length.
In general though, I think you're misunderstanding my thrust here. You're talking about value, I don't think this project is a good value at all, quite the opposite [1].
I'm just thinking about engineering and construction...
The Silver Line is a demonstration that building 23 miles of 45 mph commuter rail line costs at least $6.8B despite the benefit the benefit of 40 years, 100+ miles and 90 stations worth of experience doing the same.
Given that, actually building a first of it's kind 40 mile 300 mph rail line through the same sort of aerial and tunnel requiring [2] suburban counties around DC for 'only' $10B seems completely implausible.
1: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8492525
2: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bal-maglev-train-i...