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Recent discussion on the same project: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31204168 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31204168 This post is saying 30-35 bi

by jsnell 4y ago

Recent discussion on the same project: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31204168 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31204168 This post is saying 30-35 billion for the whole system, so the first segment will probably be about 7 billion. That's for a transport system between Zurich and some 5k inhabitant village I'd never heard of outside of this project, and that doesn't appear to be a significant pre-existing logistics hub. And on top of that they're not actually doing anything to solve the local distribution problem, e.g. all of Zurich will be handled by 2 or 3 hubs. So the last 10 kilometers will still be solved by trucks driving in urban congestion. What a bizarre fucking project. Everything about it is screaming that it's totally uneconomical, but they've somehow convinced a lot of very reputable Swiss companies to invest. Is this just all based on the assumption that Swiss interest rates will be negative forever?

pacarvalho 4y ago
I have had the pleasure of living/working in Switzerland and transportation there is fairly impressive. They are also a very rich country which gives them the option to seek the development of long-term projects that may one day benefit them as opposed to immediate fixes to issues they are having at the moment. If this works, it would be quite beneficial. Cities with less visible vehicles and streets would be healthier for the population.
psuter 4y ago
Härkingen is well-known for being at the crossroads of important highways, FWIW. It is definitely a very relevant location for logistics.
dashdot 4y ago
Every single person in Switzerland that listens to traffic reports recognises the name of that 5k inhabitant village. The A1 highway section there is one of Switzerlands most congested roads. Also, it is the location of Swiss Posts largest distribution centers, which alone makes it a significant logistics hub already. But adding to that it is also home to the flagship distribution center of Migros and hubs of several other large Swiss logistics firms like Planzer and Emil Egger. So, I think creating a connection from there to Zurich will be just fine. They chose that first route for a reason.
sb057 4y ago
>some 5k inhabitant village I'd never heard of Chicago and Los Angeles were ~5k pop backwaters before becoming railway hubs.

by jsnell 4y ago

pacarvalho 4y ago

I have had the pleasure of living/working in Switzerland and transportation there is fairly impressive. They are also a very rich country which gives them the option to seek the development of long-term projects that may one day benefit them as opposed to immediate fixes to issues they are having at the moment. If this works, it would be quite beneficial. Cities with less visible vehicles and streets would be healthier for the population.

psuter 4y ago

Härkingen is well-known for being at the crossroads of important highways, FWIW. It is definitely a very relevant location for logistics.

dashdot 4y ago

Every single person in Switzerland that listens to traffic reports recognises the name of that 5k inhabitant village. The A1 highway section there is one of Switzerlands most congested roads. Also, it is the location of Swiss Posts largest distribution centers, which alone makes it a significant logistics hub already. But adding to that it is also home to the flagship distribution center of Migros and hubs of several other large Swiss logistics firms like Planzer and Emil Egger. So, I think creating a connection from there to Zurich will be just fine. They chose that first route for a reason.

sb057 4y ago

>some 5k inhabitant village I'd never heard of Chicago and Los Angeles were ~5k pop backwaters before becoming railway hubs.