scott Posted April 20, 2011 Share Posted April 20, 2011 Google Maps seems to show that the Shinano Railway line (former Shin'etsu Honsen) goes through some very long tunnels -- I loosely measured one at about 8 miles! I can see some tunnel entrances on the aerial photos, so I guess they have it right, but--are there really that many tunnels on the line? I thought it would be an interestingly scenic trip, but if you're underground for 15 miles or more, it doesn't sound all that attractive. Link to comment
Mudkip Orange Posted April 20, 2011 Share Posted April 20, 2011 You're looking at the Nagano Shinkansen route, which does have a substantial number of very long tunnels. The parallel Shinano Railway has very few left in operation (since the Usui pass trackage has been partially ripped out). 1 Link to comment
scott Posted April 21, 2011 Author Share Posted April 21, 2011 OK, now I feel even stupider than usual. Thanks for setting me straight; I don't usually get that far off on reading maps, but maybe I'm slipping. (Or maybe my claimed map-reading skills are as much BS as everything else.) Anyway--at least this confirms that I'm not all that interested in riding shinkansens in the mountains. Link to comment
westfalen Posted April 21, 2011 Share Posted April 21, 2011 There are some long tunnels on regular lines in Japan as well, even on lightly used branch lines. It's an experience riding a single unit railcar grinding upgrade in low gear through an several kilometer long tunnel. Link to comment
miyakoji Posted April 21, 2011 Share Posted April 21, 2011 There are some long tunnels on regular lines in Japan as well, even on lightly used branch lines. It's an experience riding a single unit railcar grinding upgrade in low gear through an several kilometer long tunnel. Funny you mention this, I was just watching this series of videos on youtube of the Etsumihoku Line by contributor seishun18kinkippu. The last is this video (not recommended, really): Wow, they went all out on that one. Link to comment
westfalen Posted April 21, 2011 Share Posted April 21, 2011 The Etsumihoku Line was one I was thinking of. I've ridden it and apart from the long tunnel it's your typical country branch line, the last section with the tunnel if I remember correctly only sees three or four single unit railcars a day, it hardly seems worth the expense. Link to comment
miyakoji Posted April 21, 2011 Share Posted April 21, 2011 As I watched it, I said out loud, they're not making any money on this one! Link to comment
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