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Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Varche on 13 January 2011, 13:29:37

Title: Contreras - now that is a concrete arch!
Post by: Varche on 13 January 2011, 13:29:37
I believe this is the biggest concrete arch in Europe.

quarter of the way down this page 

http://www.eurotrib.com/story/2009/12/17/154428/33 and also
http://www.highestbridges.com/wiki/index.php?title=Contreras_Railway_Viaduct

When the High speed line opened (Madrid to Valencia) it put Spain second only to China with the amount of Km of high speed rail lines. Something for the Spanish to be truly proud of. :y 
Title: Re: Contreras - now that is a concrete arch!
Post by: albitz on 13 January 2011, 13:39:35
Depends who paid for it. ;) :D
Title: Re: Contreras - now that is a concrete arch!
Post by: Dishevelled Den on 13 January 2011, 14:08:22
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Depends who paid for it. ;) :D


A very justifiable question my son. :y
Title: Re: Contreras - now that is a concrete arch!
Post by: albitz on 13 January 2011, 14:11:17
I hate concrete with a passion. I spent 20 years working with it, and still have nightmares. ::) :D
Title: Re: Contreras - now that is a concrete arch!
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 13 January 2011, 14:33:56
A number of great engineering achievements there Varche, and the High Speed Railway lines of Europe are gradually expanding. 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 

What a netwoork it will make one day!! :y :y :y :y
Title: Re: Contreras - now that is a concrete arch!
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 13 January 2011, 14:36:57
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Depends who paid for it. ;) :D


A very justifiable question my son. :y

And a simple answer, everybody but Spain  ;D
Title: Re: Contreras - now that is a concrete arch!
Post by: aaronjb on 13 January 2011, 14:40:55
Speaking of China, they just threw (I imagine) a veritable crapload of concrete into the ocean to build the longest bridge in the world (http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/12/china-has-built-the-longest-bridge-in-the-world-so-you-dont/)

26.4 miles long, took four years to build, cost $8.5billion and utilised 10,000 workers!

Easy to build stuff fast when you can throw an inordinate number of cheap labourers at the problem, I guess ;)
Title: Re: Contreras - now that is a concrete arch!
Post by: Dishevelled Den on 13 January 2011, 14:43:18
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Quote
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Depends who paid for it. ;) :D


A very justifiable question my son. :y

And a simple answer, everybody but Spain  ;D


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Speaking of China


 ;D ;D ;D - Splendid.  8-) :y
Title: Re: Contreras - now that is a concrete arch!
Post by: aaronjb on 13 January 2011, 15:23:46
 :P :P I was, of course, referring to the highlighted part below ;)

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I believe this is the biggest concrete arch in Europe.

quarter of the way down this page 

http://www.eurotrib.com/story/2009/12/17/154428/33 and also
http://www.highestbridges.com/wiki/index.php?title=Contreras_Railway_Viaduct

When the High speed line opened (Madrid to Valencia) it put Spain second only to China with the amount of Km of high speed rail lines. Something for the Spanish to be truly proud of. :y 
Title: Re: Contreras - now that is a concrete arch!
Post by: Dishevelled Den on 13 January 2011, 15:51:57
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:P :P I was, of course, referring to the highlighted part below ;)

Quote
I believe this is the biggest concrete arch in Europe.

quarter of the way down this page 

http://www.eurotrib.com/story/2009/12/17/154428/33 and also
http://www.highestbridges.com/wiki/index.php?title=Contreras_Railway_Viaduct

When the High speed line opened (Madrid to Valencia) it put Spain second only to China with the amount of Km of high speed rail lines. Something for the Spanish to be truly proud of. :y 

Thank you for that clarification Aaron. :y
Title: Re: Contreras - now that is a concrete arch!
Post by: aaronjb on 13 January 2011, 16:33:07
'course ... China could have paid for the bridge in Spain for all I know  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Contreras - now that is a concrete arch!
Post by: Dishevelled Den on 13 January 2011, 16:43:20
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'course ... China could have paid for the bridge in Spain for all I know  ;D ;D

In a vicarious way perhaps.


China pledges support for troubled Spain economy


http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/china-spain-economy.7vd/
Title: Re: Contreras - now that is a concrete arch!
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 13 January 2011, 17:46:42
We are all relying on China's strength now for our future commercial existence! :D :D ;)
Title: Re: Contreras - now that is a concrete arch!
Post by: albitz on 13 January 2011, 17:52:58
For the time being yes, they are in the middle of a boom. But as we know - boom and bust hasnt as yet been abolished. It will be interesting to see what happens in the longer term. :-/ :y
Title: Re: Contreras - now that is a concrete arch!
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 13 January 2011, 17:59:40
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For the time being yes, they are in the middle of a boom. But as we know - boom and bust hasnt as yet been abolished. It will be interesting to see what happens in the longer term. :-/ :y


Indeed Albs, but I would gamble my last dollar on the balance of power across the world shifting over the next 50 years to China and India.
Title: Re: Contreras - now that is a concrete arch!
Post by: albitz on 13 January 2011, 18:01:25
Im not so sure tbh. ;).........although I doubt either of us will be alive in 50 years to find out. ;D
Title: Re: Contreras - now that is a concrete arch!
Post by: Dishevelled Den on 13 January 2011, 18:17:55
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For the time being yes, they are in the middle of a boom. But as we know - boom and bust hasnt as yet been abolished. It will be interesting to see what happens in the longer term. :-/ :y


Aah there it is - that will indeed be the thing my wise one. :y

In terms of China, there's a lot more of it to go bust and I would suggest that they may well have plenty of their own problems to face in the medium term within their own boundaries.
Title: Re: Contreras - now that is a concrete arch!
Post by: Varche on 13 January 2011, 18:21:24
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A number of great engineering achievements there Varche, and the High Speed Railway lines of Europe are gradually expanding. 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 

What a netwoork it will make one day!! :y :y :y :y


Eh. Spain has already got a phenomenal amount and France too.

If only Britains train companies and politicians could get their thumbs out , then Britain might have too. Second thoughts maybe not!! too busy on short termism and screwing profits out of everyone to plan for the longer term.
Title: Re: Contreras - now that is a concrete arch!
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 13 January 2011, 18:30:43
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A number of great engineering achievements there Varche, and the High Speed Railway lines of Europe are gradually expanding. 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 

What a netwoork it will make one day!! :y :y :y :y


Eh. Spain has already got a phenomenal amount and France too.

If only Britains train companies and politicians could get their thumbs out , then Britain might have too. Second thoughts maybe not!! too busy on short termism and screwing profits out of everyone to plan for the longer term.


No Varche, more a case of the NIMBIES (not in my back yard) slowing the planning process right down, and also the UK does not have the large expanses of building free land that both Spain and France have. 

When you build a new line in Britain you are guaranteed to plough it through heavily populated areas, which produces cost and practical problems galore ;)