Rumor: High-speed tube travel concept in the works

[kentauros]

69. My one question is: Why is it above ground?

At 4000 mph, it's not like you'll be able to discern much of the scenery. Everything will just be a big blur. Yeah, you'll get sunlight (when it runs during the day) but there are many reasons why having it above ground isn't the best method of placement.

First off, people are stupid. Put them behind the wheel of anything, give them even a not-so-obvious target and they'll find a way to run into it. Or, as with railroads, they'll find a way of getting hit. Yes, I know this is not open-air. Just that at-grade RR crossings are always in danger of being an accident site due to the stupidity of people. If we ever have high-speed rail, I do hope the builders realize there can simply never be any at-grade crossings of any kind.

Burying a tube-system like this is the best way to go (not to mention that you'll have to do some kind of long tunnel-boring to get across the Rockies and other mountain ranges.) If you're worried about sabotage, you've already eliminated the ones that can only think in terms of the easy ways, like shooting it, or running a dump-truck into it. Plus, once it's buried, you can further protect it in low-tech ways, such as a half-shell of thick steel over the top half, or even just a two-lane concrete road overhead and along its easement.

That's another thing this would have to use: a dedicated easement, separate from existing roads and highways. Think of your average power right-of-way, usually at least two hundred feet wide, both for safety and future upgrades. An easement that size could also have high-speed rail for those that would like to actually see the scenery.