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Great Western Coffee Shop > All across the Great Western territory > The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom > Severn tunnel 125 years old
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Author Topic: Severn tunnel 125 years old  (Read 5303 times)
anthony215
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« on: September 03, 2011, 11:14:38 »
Surprised no one has posted this yet:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-14771292

also the swansea district line will be 100 years old next year.

I do apoligise if this is in the wrong section, but feel free to move it if it is?

any chance we could have a section for infrastructure projects etc added to this forum?
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bobm
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« Reply #1 on: September 03, 2011, 14:38:24 »
God I do feel old.  No I don't remember the opening  Grin Grin but I do remember Western Region organising a Sunday morning visit to the tunnel mouth on the English side and the chance to walk the first few hundred yards into it as part of the events to mark the centenary in 1986.  I remember being impressed by the state of the brickwork etc.
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standclearplease
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« Reply #2 on: September 03, 2011, 17:06:02 »
It's quite a feat of engineering. It does make you wander if such an expensive and complicated project would go ahead today- and indeed what would be different to today's design.

It'll also be really interesting to watch the tunnel become part of the electrified network in the next few years.
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phile
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« Reply #3 on: September 03, 2011, 17:36:20 »
The way projects are delivered in this day and age, it would probably be 125 years before such a feat could be accomplished.    Most of the time would probably be taken up in the Planning Process, fighting NIMBYs, Feasability study, funding seeking, then another costly review and if given the go ahead an extensive tendering process.   While all this is being done, the costs would keep on increasing making it too expensive to go ahead with the construction  !!!     Not possible just to get on and do the job.
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bobm
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« Reply #4 on: September 03, 2011, 22:26:21 »
Quote from: standclearplease on September 03, 2011, 17:06:02
It'll also be really interesting to watch the tunnel become part of the electrified network in the next few years.

I'm still not sure.  Not looking forward to seeing The Severn and Box Tunnels and Maidenhead Bridge after the wires go up.  Still that's progress I guess.
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #5 on: September 03, 2011, 22:49:59 »
Hmm. Network Rail remain positive about the electrification of the Severn Tunnel: see their press release.  Wink
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William Huskisson MP▸ (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: Stop, Look, Listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
bobm
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« Reply #6 on: September 03, 2011, 23:16:42 »
Oh yes I'm under no illusions it will happen. Just the traditionalist in me hopes it wouldn't!
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