patrick.net

The tunnel that is shown is way too narrow.
If a car breaks down in there, the entire thing will be plugged with no way out.
If a car starts burning, many people will die.
You need to at least double the dimensions.

Tunnels are boring.

Heraclitusstudent says

You need to at least double the dimensions.

While I share some of your concerns, size is one of the main selling points as they use "tracked" autonomous vehicles. The tunnels are economic at their current size. If you double the bore size, you have to remove 4 times the amount of dirt and likely increase the down time of your drill rig. I'll say this about Musk -- I'd be very surprised if he's claustrophobic.

EBGuy says

Heraclitusstudent says

You need to at least double the dimensions.

While I share some of your concerns, size is one of the main selling points as they use "tracked" autonomous vehicles. The tunnels are economic at their current size. If you double the bore size, you have to remove 4 times the amount of dirt and likely increase the down time of your drill rig. I'll say this about Musk -- I'd be very surprised if he's claustrophobic.

But there must be some kind of code for the tunnels, right? Even subway tunnels have enough width for people to walk out in case a train gets stuck.

How many people can this tunnel transport compared to Metro, and why would this be better than say a "Metro" that we already have?

They can't be a success without actually existing, I'm not aware of a single tunnel that Musk built that is right now solving any problems.

Fortwaynemobile says

How many people can this tunnel transport compared to Metro, and why would this be better than say a "Metro" that we already have?

This is better because you won't have to find a parking spot at a departure point and you will have a car at the destination. And you won't be forced to mingle with smelly bums like you do on BART.

Something to keep in mind:

35 die, 1 Briton missing in Mont Blanc tunnel fire

'Every-thing was ablaze in half a minute. I ran for my life. Behind me all hell broke loose. In a few minutes the tunnel was like an oven.'
...
At one point, temperatures reached 1000C along a 700-yard section of the tunnel

Don't dig too deep.

Heraclitusstudent says

Something to keep in mind:

35 die, 1 Briton missing in Mont Blanc tunnel fire

'Every-thing was ablaze in half a minute. I ran for my life. Behind me all hell broke loose. In a few minutes the tunnel was like an oven.'
...
At one point, temperatures reached 1000C along a 700-yard section of the tunnel

"The two-lane Mont Blanc crossing uses a single tunnel, unlike the Channel Tunnel, which has three separate tubes including a pressurised one with evacuation points for emergencies.
Other long Alpine road tunnels have a separate corridor for rescue and maintenance. "

The Boring Co. model will probably evolve into paired tunnels with airtight escape doors connecting them at every 1000ft or so.

Please extinguish all lithium ion battery fires before entering tunnel.


Keep in mind that Mont Blanc tunnel fire was caused by a lorry. There won't be truckers in Boring Tunnels -- at least for now.

DASKAA says

The Boring Co. model will probably evolve into paired tunnels with airtight escape doors connecting them at every 1000ft or so.

That would still leave the more likely issue of a car breaking down and blocking the entire tunnel.
I don't know if they can have 2 parallel but overlapping tubes connected so as to have 2 lanes at least. Most likely you need at least 2 lanes + 1 for emergencies or service access. In each direction.

Heraclitusstudent says

DASKAA says

The Boring Co. model will probably evolve into paired tunnels with airtight escape doors connecting them at every 1000ft or so.

That would still leave the more likely issue of a car breaking down and blocking the entire tunnel.
I don't know if they can have 2 parallel but overlapping tubes connected so as to have 2 lanes at least. Most likely you need at least 2 lanes + 1 for emergencies or service access. In each direction.

More likely but infinitely less dangerous. Just mildly annoying really. And in case of emergency the help can arrive through the parallel tunnel and access the scene through the connecting doors. And/or it can arrive through the same tunnel from either direction. If I understand the whole concept correctly the sections of tunnels in between surface access points will not be very long.

Ceffer says

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caldecott_Tunnel_fire

I doubt Musk plans for double-tankers carrying gasoline to ever travel though his boring tunnels.

But since lithium batteries are capable of catching fire the twin-tunnel model is the must, IMO.

As a reminder, everything old is new again. There's a reason they call it The Tube. I do get the feeling that Musk is making this up as he goes along. From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_London_Underground
The tunnels were bored under the roads to avoid the need for agreement with owners of property on the surface.

EBGuy says

As a reminder, everything old is new again. There's a reason they call it The Tube. I do get the feeling that Musk is making this up as he goes along. From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_London_Underground
The tunnels were bored under the roads to avoid the need for agreement with owners of property on the surface.

This is really tight. No way something like that would be approved today.

DASKAA says

This is really tight. No way something like that would be approved today.

Don't worry, Musk's tubes are 28% bigger. Plus the floor is between the wheels (Model S) instead of on top of them (like a traditional train carriage). Looks like he has abandoned the "sleds" for ferrying an ICE vehicle; that concept always seemed problematic to me.
This whole thing strikes me as part transit solution, part precursor to the HyperLoop and part amusement park ride (if you hit 100mph, that could be fun).

Heraclitusstudent says

You need to at least double the dimensions.

IF they are going 150 MPH and there are a lots of of exits (off shoot tunnels), then it might be a matter of simply disrupting traffic for a fairly short time, as they back a vehicle in to tow them out. They have to plan for that, and they have to plan for that happening multiple times at once,


Think about it. If the cars are autonomous then they are in communication with each other. So the instant there is a problem most vehicles behind will exit at the next exit and at that speed you can guarantee enough space between vehicles to ensure that the closest one behind you is one exit back, or certainly two cars back would be enough back to exit in time. And the emergency systems that tow cars out, would also be notified instantly.

Sounds like a fun engineering problem.

DASKAA says

This is really tight.

I also thought that the train picture was a sexual metaphor.

They’re only allowing Tesla’s to go through at least right now. Betting any vehicle to pass through will need to have autonomous capability. That’s so the system takes control and drives the car for you.