Amtrak CEO Open Letter to Congress

Hey, I'm fine for alternate plans, but this sudden change of heart on repair vs. replace is really confusing.

For the past four years, "gridlock" and lack of Federal funding was the reason for not moving forward on Gateway.

Now that there's a real chance for Federal funding, NYS doesn't want the money?

Reality is that Amtrak will likely be on sustenance funding. Anything that's above that seems to be going to pay for all those employees for whom there isn't enough work for.

…what exactly does this have to do with the Amtrak CEO's letter?

lensovet wrote: ↑Fri Feb 05, 2021 4:33 am …what exactly does this have to do with the Amtrak CEO's letter?

Apparently nothing. Amtrak didn't even ask for infrastructure money, which they'd have a much better chance at landing than trying to expand service at a time when demand for travel is at a 100 year low...

electricron wrote: ↑Fri Feb 05, 2021 1:56 am
Per Wiki,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_River_Tunnels
"The tunnels were built with drilling and blasting techniques and tunneling shields, which were placed at three locations and driven towards each other. The shields proceeded west from Manhattan, east and west from Weehawken, and east from the Bergen portals.
Under the river itself, the tunnels started in rock, using drill and blast, but the strata under the river was pure mud for a considerable depth. As a result, this part was driven under compressed air, using 194-ton shields that met about 3,000 feet (910 m) from the Weehawken and Manhattan portals. The mud was such that the shield was shoved forward without taking any ground; however, it was found that the shield was easier to steer if some mud was taken in through holes at the front, since the mud had the consistency of toothpaste. After the tubes had been excavated, they were lined with 2.5-foot-wide (0.76 m) segmental cast-iron rings, each weighing 22 tons. The segments were bolted together and lined with 22-inch (56 cm) of concrete.

Note, they were lined with concrete - the structural support and watertight barrier is the cast iron segmental rings. 2.5 feet of cast iron is 30 inches thick, the concrete lining is only 22 inches thick.

Note I think you're misreading the Wikipedia article. The segments are 2.5' WIDE, not thick.
(and this will probably all get moved someplace better)

Greg Moore wrote: ↑Fri Feb 05, 2021 12:24 pm Note I think you're misreading the Wikipedia article. The segments are 2.5' WIDE, not thick.
(and this will probably all get moved someplace better)

You might be correct, but it really does not matter. The cast iron is the real barrier keeping out the river, not the concrete. That steel containment barrier on a containment dome is less than an inch thick compared to the feet thick concrete missile barrier.

eolesen wrote: ↑Fri Feb 05, 2021 4:40 am Apparently nothing. Amtrak didn't even ask for infrastructure money, which they'd have a much better chance at landing than trying to expand service at a time when demand for travel is at a 100 year low...

That is not how the federal government works. They do not ask for funds they believe they are going to get as a matter of course, they always ask for funds they hope to get additionally.