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Publish Date : 24-Oct-2017

The current California super-fast rail plan would see the 240-mile starter system starting in San Jose and ending in an almond orchard south of Wasco.

The state expects the system to launch operations in 2025 and transport around 3 million passengers annually. But, they are already at least 12 months behind schedule and just have the funding for the 30 miles.

They identified the need for the 240 mile starter system to have a 13.5-mile tunnel, earlier in 2017. Until late last year, officials had considered the construction of 5 shorter tunnels. However, that plan cut too close to the San Luis Reservoir.

Ralph Vartabedian informed about the super-fast rail and tunnel situation.

He said, "Bent Flyvbjerg, a University of Oxford professor who has studied high-speed rail projects around the world, estimated the cost could range from $5.6 billion (with a 50% chance of a cost overrun) to $14.6 billion (with a 20% chance of a cost overrun). He based his estimates on data from more than 500 international tunnel projects. On average, an equivalent tunnel would cost $7.6 billion. An executive at one of the nations leading engineering firms, who was not authorized to publicly comment on the state rail plan but is knowledgeable about the project, estimated the cost would run from $10 billion to $12 billion, based on recent experience with long tunnels in difficult geology."

He added, "The final environmental plan, which sets the exact route, is supposed to be adopted next year, and only then can the state begin soliciting bids and awarding a construction contract. The contract process will take at least another year."

He concluded, "Once a contract is issued, the builder will have to order a custom-made tunnel boring machine, which takes about one year to build and set up at the site. The authority would need at least three years to bore the tunnel, possibly much more, and then three more to outfit it with high-voltage electrical systems, ventilation, signals and track, according to outside experts."

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