The Modeler's Forum

The Mainline => Baggage Car - Daily Chat => Topic started by: Bernd on June 05, 2026, 08:49:01 AM

Title: Alaska - Russia Railroad Link vis Bearing Straight
Post by: Bernd on June 05, 2026, 08:49:01 AM
I mentioned this subject back in September 2025 on MRH. It was poop-pooed as impossible to do. This is a project that was talked about way back in history.

I said on MRH:

QuoteLooks like the Bearing Straight crossing by bridge or tunnel has been talked about quite a bit.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bering_Strait_crossing (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bering_Strait_crossing)

Putin's envoy boasts of plans to sign agreement with US on Chukotka-Alaska tunnel

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/06/04/8037791/index.amp?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email (https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/06/04/8037791/index.amp?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email)
 
Looks like Elon Musk will be involved. The signing happens today.

Aught to make for some interesting conversion.

Bernd
Title: Re: Alaska - Russia Railroad Link vis Bearing Straight
Post by: deemery on June 05, 2026, 09:09:20 AM
This would not be cheap, but the benefit is unclear.  Do we really think that Russian raw materials are sufficiently valuable to cover the costs (construction and operating costs)?  That would include not just the crossing of the Straits, but the tracks across Alaska and Siberia.   (I'm ignoring right now the political dimensions of any agreement with Russia.)

dave
Title: Re: Alaska - Russia Railroad Link vis Bearing Straight
Post by: PRR Modeler on June 05, 2026, 10:03:05 AM
James interesting project.
Title: Re: Alaska - Russia Railroad Link vis Bearing Straight
Post by: Zephyrus52246 on June 05, 2026, 02:17:24 PM
Interesting reading.  With the poor weather in the area and ice floes I doubt bridges would be used.  With the major earthquake fault lines there I doubt bridges nor tunnels would work.  And the political issues seem to make this an odd time for both sides to be talking about this.   

Jeff