Building a railway in a mountainous region is a very difficult task, and a lot of challenges come into play. Some of these are environmental challenges, and others are the challenges of economics. You need to be able to overcome these obstacles in order to create a railway through a mountainous region.
Oil prices
Oil prices are fluctuating as the OPEC cuts costs and increases production. In the meantime, rail transport continues to be the best method for getting crude to markets where prices make it economically viable. However, despite recent optimism, the challenges of building a railway through a mountainous area will remain.
As a result, many oil companies are experiencing a dip in stock prices. The United States is currently the world’s largest importer of crude. Its shale oil production is growing. A decline in price is likely to reduce the drilling budgets of many producers until prices recover.
Crude prices are influenced by a variety of factors, including supply and demand fundamentals, weather forecasts, political events, and logistics. Some markets are more volatile than others. For example, the price of Canadian light sweet oil trades at a discount to WTI, and the price of heavy sour crude from the USGC trades at a premium to WTI.
Crude prices are also affected by the quality of the oil. The acidity of the oil, its molecular structure, and its sulphur content can all affect the quality of the oil.
Another factor that affects pricing differentials is the marketability of the oil. The West Coast has access to Canadian crude via rail, and the region faces dwindling heavy oil supplies from Mexico and Venezuela.
As Canada’s oil production continues to rise, its supply is becoming more sour. Heavy crude requires special handling and transportation. While the pipeline system has the capacity to move this type of crude, the cost of the shipment may add up.
Similarly, the Gulf Coast faces a shortage of heavy crude from Mexico and Venezuela. It is also being swamped with light crude from the Permian basin.
Environmental impact
The construction of transportation infrastructure is one of the most harmful human-induced environmental impacts. It can result in the fragmentation of habitats and impede migration routes of animals, plants and humans. In addition, it can result in air pollution and water pollution, destroying natural ecosystems. Infrastructures can also contribute to global warming, eutrophication and acidification. As such, railway construction should always follow the Alberta Building code compliant foundation options to reduce further harm to the environment.
Railways are a critical means of moving people and goods across long distances. However, the construction of railway infrastructure is also a major cause of environmental problems. Many studies have focused on the ecological effects of roads, but few studies have examined the impact of railway tunnels.
In a recent study, the environmental impact of building a 1 km double-track HSR railway tunnel was assessed. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) model was used to estimate the environmental performance of the project. Using this approach, 17 different environmental impact categories were considered.
The construction of the railway infrastructure involved an intensive use of material resources. This included lining, support and infrastructure work. For each category, the amount of concrete and fuel consumption by construction equipment were found to be the biggest contributors to the overall environmental burden.
Rail transport is recognized as one of the most energy-efficient motorized transport systems. However, the growth in trans-European transport networks has led to an increase in the modal attraction of railways in Europe.
The railway network was observed in several locations along the SGR corridor. Contractors undertook post-construction rehabilitation of degraded areas.
The construction of a railway through a mountainous area is particularly dangerous. Densely occurring geological hazards in complex mountainous regions have threatened sustainable railway construction.
As with any development project, railways can have a significant impact on the environment. Depending on the location, railways can obstruct wildlife corridors, create noise and air pollution, or destroy natural ecosystems. They can disrupt migration routes and drain freshwater.
