🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <66422@cup.portal.com>, ts@cup.portal.com (Tim W Smith) writes:
|> A weird thought, after reading the discussion here about the LA Metro.
|> Has anyone considered ferry trains?  That is, trains that can carry
|> automobiles?

Yes.  They will be used to carry cars & trucks through the English Channel
Tunnel connecting France/Belgium with England.  The Channel tunnel (aka
the "Chunnel"), will open sometime in late '93 or early '94.  It is
expected to replace (or put out of business) the cross-channel ferries
by providing a far faster and safer means of passage.

They are most often used to get around some kind of natural barrier that
is either inconvenient or impossible to negotiate by auto.  Switzerland
is a good example of this where they have several large mountains that
have very long rail tunnels going underneath.  While in the summer, auto
drivers may want to avoid the tortuous and long road over the pass by
putting their car on the train, in the winter, the train is often the
*only* way to get to the other side of the mountain(s).  I believe
Switzerland and Austria are working on an Alp "base tunnel" which will
be primarily for getting cars and trucks onto trains and off the roads
over/through the Alps.

Amtrak also has an auto train between the Washington DC area and Miami.
This is for taking your car (and now even your minivan) on vaction to
Florida without having to drive down there.

-- 

Adrian Brandt (415) 940-2379
UUCP: ...!ames!ntmtv!adrian
ARPA: ntmtv!adrian@ames.arc.nasa.gov