You are here:

Civil Engineering/Question on Mass Underground Transportation Idea

Advertisement

Expert: - 3/24/2010


Question
Hey Mr. Khan -
I have a question regarding an idea that I can not get out of my head.  I love traveling but I hate flying (mainly due to the costs and available times).  One day I thought to myself, "It would be nice to travel from major city to major city via another, easier method of travel other than flight."  Then something else came to mind, a mass transporatation system underground that traveled as fast as a plane traveled or even faster which was able to carry passengers from major city to major city.  For instance, Houston, TX to Chicago, IL is roughly 1100 miles.  Traveling at 700 mi./hr., its about an hour and a half ride.  That would be nice to do so while traveling on or underground.  So, my question is this - is this feasible?  Is it realistically possible to construct a mass underground transportation system that connects all major cities for travel?  I appreciate your thoughts on this.

Thanks.

Answer
Hi Mark,

The concept is technically feasible but will be very expensive and hence not financially viable. Also, current technology does not have trains that can run faster than about 250-300 mph, so even these will need to be developed. You idea is good, but I would suggest a combination of underground and over-ground (which has advantages in that passengers do not get bored by lack of scenery or claustrophobic). Such a system already exists between London and Paris/Brussels.

Civil Engineering

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Arshad Khan

Expertise

I can answer any questions to do with civil and structural engineering consultancy and construction industry in East Africa and the Middle East, and specifically with the analysis and design of reinforced concrete structures. My particular expertise is in the aseismic design and optimisation of tall buildings.

Experience

Employment history: 36 years in Construction and consultancy in the UK, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Africa, Somalia, Zambia, Austria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Doha and the U.A.E.

Organizations
.Fellow of Institution of Structural Engineers (UK) .Fellow of Institution of Civil Engineers(UK) .Member of the Institution of Engineers, Kenya .Registered Engineer, ERB, Kenya .Member of the Architectural Association of Kenya (Engineers Chapter) .Chartered Engineer (UK)

Publications
•1984: International Conference on the Art and Practice of Structural Design, London •1994: 3rd Int. Kerensky Conference in Structural Engineering, Singapore •2008: International Conference on High-Rise Towers, Abu Dhabi

Education/Credentials
BSc, 1st Class Hons, in Building Engineering, University of Bath, UK MSc in Concrete Structures and Technology, University of London. Diploma of Imperial College, UK.

Awards and Honors
•Science Congress Special Award (for 2-seater Hovercraft - 1968) •Institution of Civil Engineers Award for outstanding performance at Bath University (1975) •Concrete Society Postgraduate study Bursary Award (1976) •Consular Representative for British High Commission, Nairobi. (1995 to 1998) •Examiner for Institution of Civil Engineers Professional Interviews, Nairobi. (1997 to 1998) •Branch Representative in Vienna for PI assessment for Inst. of Struct. Engrs. (1999 to date)

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.