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Is this safe? I didn't see any escape paths. What happens if there is a fire and you are in the sixth tube down? Electric trains are considered quite safe yet

Is this safe? I didn't see any escape paths. What happens if there is a fire and you are in the sixth tube down? Electric trains are considered quite safe yet tunnels have a lot of escape paths and service tunnels built parallel to the main one.

ardit33 8y ago
It is not, per general EU regulations no 'single bore' tunnel can be longer than 1km (0.62miles0. Tunnels that are longer than that, either have to be double tunnels, with escape doors between them, or one large tunnel and an emergency smaller one. This looks the size of a emergency tunnel. Still, the cost of building it seems pretty low. Boring Co could build two side by side, (one for each direction) and have emergency hatches between them.
- npunt 8y ago
  Yeah practically I think there’s almost always going to need to be two tunnels side by side, given density of stations and the need for long distances to slow vehicles down as they exit from the main tunnel (up to 150mph) to the stations. It may be that stations wind up quite a bit denser than one every mile- certain parts of LA could use them every 1/4 mile really.
- agumonkey 8y ago
  But would it still be that cheap with escapes and links ...
ryanmercer 8y ago
>Is this safe? As safe as any cave open to the public, which there are many of in state and federal parks often with only 1 or 2 exits. Also, barring an act of terrorism, it's probably as safe as driving a car, safer than skiing (water or snow), exponentially safer than sky-diving etc. >What happens if there is a fire and you are in the sixth tube down? Compared to the feat of actually tunneling the machine, boring small escape tubes would be relatively trivial. Employ magnetic-electric security doors that can be remotely released or unlock in the event of a power failure and anyone able bodied could climb a ladder out, make them wide enough to get a rescue harness down and fabricate in an anchor point for a safety line and anyone not capable could be lifted out not unlike how rescue helicopters lift people with a winch. And really, the operator could install the harnesses and winches too and have them be both electric with a way to easily connect them to an external power source and/or manual for redundancy. All you'd have to do is test them once or twice a year and lubricate as necessary. I'm pretty risk-averse but I wouldn't hesitate to use one, even without escape shafts.
- rsynnott 8y ago
  > As safe as any cave open to the public Actually, really, laughed out loud.
  - richardbdrowley 8y ago
    I hope this was a reference to Thailand.

ardit33 8y ago

It is not, per general EU regulations no 'single bore' tunnel can be longer than 1km (0.62miles0. Tunnels that are longer than that, either have to be double tunnels, with escape doors between them, or one large tunnel and an emergency smaller one. This looks the size of a emergency tunnel. Still, the cost of building it seems pretty low. Boring Co could build two side by side, (one for each direction) and have emergency hatches between them.

npunt 8y ago
Yeah practically I think there’s almost always going to need to be two tunnels side by side, given density of stations and the need for long distances to slow vehicles down as they exit from the main tunnel (up to 150mph) to the stations. It may be that stations wind up quite a bit denser than one every mile- certain parts of LA could use them every 1/4 mile really.
agumonkey 8y ago
But would it still be that cheap with escapes and links ...

ryanmercer 8y ago

>Is this safe? As safe as any cave open to the public, which there are many of in state and federal parks often with only 1 or 2 exits. Also, barring an act of terrorism, it's probably as safe as driving a car, safer than skiing (water or snow), exponentially safer than sky-diving etc. >What happens if there is a fire and you are in the sixth tube down? Compared to the feat of actually tunneling the machine, boring small escape tubes would be relatively trivial. Employ magnetic-electric security doors that can be remotely released or unlock in the event of a power failure and anyone able bodied could climb a ladder out, make them wide enough to get a rescue harness down and fabricate in an anchor point for a safety line and anyone not capable could be lifted out not unlike how rescue helicopters lift people with a winch. And really, the operator could install the harnesses and winches too and have them be both electric with a way to easily connect them to an external power source and/or manual for redundancy. All you'd have to do is test them once or twice a year and lubricate as necessary. I'm pretty risk-averse but I wouldn't hesitate to use one, even without escape shafts.

rsynnott 8y ago
> As safe as any cave open to the public Actually, really, laughed out loud.
- richardbdrowley 8y ago
  I hope this was a reference to Thailand.