4 ms·

Hmmm; maybe in some parts of the world. Around here (NH/VT) the curves are pretty obviously imposed by geology (if they didn’t follow narrow valleys, they woul

• maaku 13y ago
  There is the concept of eminent domain which lets the government force-purchase land for this purpose. However it's typically only done in cities or where the geography / geology requires it. Out in California's central valley where it is flat as far as the eye can see, it's sometimes better politically to do a curve to follow edges of property lines than to piss off some big wig ranchers.
• bane 13y ago
  Well, that's what he was talking about, terrain isn't a problem if you don't mind blasting and clearing things or building lots of tunnels. It's expensive, but it's technologically possible.
  • kalleboo 13y ago
    And this is what Japan does to build high speed rail in a mountainous country where all the land that's possible to grow or build on is already owned. On some Shinkansen routes you spend half your time going in an out of tunnels