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Minitube
Cut costs by decreasing the diameter of the tube | |
Digging tunnels is obviously more expensive when your tube diameter is larger. The idea is to shrink the tube diameter to a mere 3ft. How will people travel? Lying down, of course!
The train comes into the station (the largest part of the system), it is composed of a series of pods 2ft10inches wide
and 7 ft long. As the train comes in, the pods all orient themselves via a system of hydraulic arms so that the length becomes the depth (they are now 7ft high instead of 7ft long). Half the pod slides away, giving just enough room inside for an adult to stan comfortably. Passengers exit the train, then others get onboard in a standing position. The doors close, the pods re-orient themselvces so everyone is lying on their backs (Note: You have to get in the right way, otherwise you'll be lying face down). Then the train stars off again.
Not only is the tunnel cost greatly reduced, but because each pod can turn individually the turning radius can be much greater. All trips are in private, tubes can leave the ground and go right into office buildings or go alongside elevated railways if necessary.
[link]
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Claustrophobics need not apply. The "EL" version of this was sort of half-baked on 'Futurama'. |
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Well, digging a bigger tunnel requires a larger boring machine. We wouldn't have human labour (unless we employ midgits and hobbits) and (I think) a smaller tube is structurally stronger than a larger one; less materials.
This one won't really suck you up at request then slam you into a wall causing some arrogant dork to contemptiously say "Tourist" |
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//Claustrophobics need not apply//
Crawling along on one's back, from pod to pod in an emergency, will shirley cure one's claustrophobia. Or cause it. |
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//otherwise you'll be lying face down//
I was actually hoping to be face down, in the pose of a flying super hero. |
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We should add a sign, "Note: No beverages allowed." |
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Reminds me of a programme on
TV here recently about
undertakers. The chief undertaker
was talking about a recently
deceased man who was taller than
average and completely
unselfconsciously referred to him
as being "quite long". |
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