My thoughts are with the people of California.
Mr Norman , as far as I know , there is no way of predicting earthquakes . Animals seem to sense them seconds before people, but their senses for most things are superior(or less deadened) than ours.
For some reason, tunnels seem to hold up well in earthquakes. Every major tunnel in NZ is on , through or near a fault line. All have seen earthquakes nearby , in the 6- 7 .2 range. The Otira(5 mile) and Lyttleton Tunnels survived the Christchurch earthquakes unscathed. The Rimutaka (5 mile) has had several in the 6 and above shakes over the years. Kaikoura (7.2) shook Wellington 20 miles away . The Kaimai is the newest long tunnel (5 mile) , I can't recall if it was open when the nearby Edgecumbe Struck. Probably the least active area a long tunnel is in for NZ. The fault line is slightly out to sea on this one.
Some of the smaller tunnels in the Kaikoura area were definitely damaged in the Kaikoura quake, from the photos I have seen I don't think it would have caused loss of life. All lines are shut down after a major shake until checked for damage.
The Japanese would obviously have far more experience with HSR in quake areas. All countries in the ring of fire cooperate on Earthquake research.
However , I would say a tunnel is politically dead in the water after last weeks events. At least for the near future.
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worldwide railfan ,
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The only train trips I regret are the ones I didn't take.