If we can throw some pipelines in for a little bit of that oil & gas what are we waiting for??

Thomas, houston, USA

'If Russia had a rail system that could handle a 300mph train, it might have benefits. But the Russian rail system is in the same poor condition as the rest of its infrastructure.'

Kind of like our rail system, huh?

Martin, Boston,

It's a really cool idea, and I'd love for it to happen, but I DO NOT want to spend $30b in tax money on it. Of course, the real cost will be at least 5 times that much once they start the project. Let the private sector do it if it needs to be done. Keep government and my tax dollars OUT!!!

Josh, Rochester, NY, USA

Build it....... great way to reduce future tenisons. When money is involved two countries learn how to cooperate. Besides it would be a boon to all parties involved.

Eugene Boyanton, Picayune/Issaquah, USA

If Russia had a rail system that could handle a 300mph train, it might have benefits. But the Russian rail system is in the same poor condition as the rest of its infrastructure. Everything for the state or the mafia, nothing for the people produces this crumbling system.

The idea is good but travelling from London to Alaska at 50 mph is not attractive.

John Dodge, Tucson, AZ

Great idea. There'd be nothing better than staying on one train to travel the entire globe. (Of course the gauge would be a problem, but if someone can manage to build a tunnel in the arctic I assume an engineer somewhere could solve this problem...) The plates might be a problem, but if it takes 20-30 years to build, I'm sure another engineer can come up with some kind of seismic reduction jelly to grease the joints up. And it's better the money goes to this than building more tanks. Something I'll never understand.

Matt, Denver, Colorado, US

You would have to be an idiot to put tanks into a 64 mile tunnel. All your opponent has to do is temporarily flood the tunnel and the invasion is over.

If you can control both entrances to the tunnel and its entire length you might be safe, but if you can do that you could bring the tanks by ship.

Luke Gedeon, Providence,

C'mon, guys, say it... APRIL FOOL'S!!!!!
RIGHT?

spencer, LOS ANGELES, Ca

Alaska is subject to severe and frequent earthquakes, which would add an interesting twist (pun intended) to tunnel building up there, wouldn't it?

Don , rogers,

Please people, we need to get away from the ecomony view point, eventually it should be based on ecology, we should be thinking as one world, not different peoples of different nations, this exact thought invokes the wars we have witnessed over the history of time, sounds like I'm living in a dream doesn't it, in the end its going to be about the survivorship of a species; the human species, think about...
we the people (humans) are so self destructive for something we created for value, something called currency, power, greed, unnatural control; not for natural resources for the future generations of our children's children...

michael, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA

Hey Paul from Vancouver, Canada:

There are so many Americans on this board because the project is between Russia and the US not Russia and Canada.

Todd, Los Angeles, CA / USA

After reading some of the comments I have a really vivid picture in my mind: thousands of Mexicans skiing across icy Bering Strait towar Russian shores, thousands of Chinese sneaking through the tunnel in the opposite direction, Russian tanks waiting for the right moment to push through the hole in the ground. Scary!

Anton, Urjupinsk, Russia

And in the event of of a conflict? A great way to send tanks and troops.

alstor, Melbourne,

Europe, of course, will be conveniently unavailable to assist us.

Vink, Manhattan, USA

Americans, of course, have so little grasp of history that they don't know when they're being funny...

MDHinton, Sieradz, Poland

…the tunnel would allow rail connections between London and New York”.

I would like to add to N. Smith and C. Hutchins said the tunnel not only to connect USA/Canada with Europe but with Japan, China and India also. It might become most important project for all history of mankind.

Alexey S., Auckland, NZ

quote[most of the traffic through the tunnel would be finished goods from China, Korea, Japan, etc. and that Russia could charge a very high fee and still save shipping costs and time vs shipping by container ships.]

Whoo Hooo! More lead tainted imports getting to us quicker and cheaper!

Linda, Great Falls, MT

The idea of Russians invading America is ludicrous. Their population is decreasing at the rate of half a million each year. At that rate they will be lucky to be able to invade Belgium in 20 years. The real problem is the millions of Chinese that are waiting to occupy Siberia. Perhaps this is a big idea of Mr Putin but it wont be an invasion route except perhaps for high quality Asian products for the US consumers.

Ben, Queensland, Australia

Yes, let's poke yet another hole in our border and give both sides even more reason for mutual distrust. I can hear the allegations now: "They smuggled xyz into our nation using the tunnel!" Who gets to tax this tunnel? How expensive is security going to be to ensure WMD materials are not shipped? Or illegal human cargo, or sensitive information? Bad idea. Oh yeah, let's remember the region is not only seismically active, the earthquakes there are among the most powerful on Earth usually. Let's build an underwater tunnel there.

John, Atlanta, GA, USA

About rails width and narrow views
Russian standards on rails width (initially 1524 mm, later 1520 mm) were set in mid 19th c. Right, Russians were really frightened by the possible invasion but not via rails. HM Navy with allies invaded Crimea (1854) . To prevent future British invasions Russians participated in WWI in order to occupy and fill-up Dardanelles.

News for export
All Russians know the anecdote when one guy in Stalin times was sentenced to GULAG for digging a secret tunnel from Moscow to London according to British MI-6 plan. And that is another project of the kind. Congatulations to Times fooled (April1 is coming)!

Real business background
Roman Abramovich has started promotion campaign for his new toy - the largest tunnel-making machine which he ordered already.

But anyway: what a good project for both Bush-Putin to tell about at press-conference after meetingo when you have nothing positive to say !

Andrew, Moscow, Russia

All of this gloom and doom; this project would probably take about fifty years to begin and finish; and if you think the Big Dig in Boston was a pain in the arse, look at this without rose-colored glasses. The Alcan Hwy was built in less than 14 months, and that was really tough, but it got done. Necessity breeds success, and this is possible, and may be the best project in history whensaid and then done. We could use Piggyback Trains and offload on either side for transport down or into Asia...it would work, and be very successful and probaly encourage world peace. The UN should sponsor this, with ALL nations footing the bill equally, instead of "Uncle Sap" doing all the heavy lifting. It is a benefit to the world.

charles t. sherwin, Pittsboro, NC USA

to Chris
It won't be 6 days trip from NY to London, at least 15 days I guess, since from Moscow to Vladivostok train goes like for 6,5 days. And I don't think that for 9300 km trip through National Park-like nature it is too long.

to Books
Train "Moscow to Chukotka" doesn't even exist, it mentioned only in Russian anecdote.

Alexey, Novosibirsk, Russia

Being from Alaska originally, I think it would be great for a state who's economy is struggling and oil is hopefully being phased out as our major form of fuel for transportation. Also, the prospects for inter-continental travel sounds like something that people from all over the world would want to experience.

Jon, Tucson, Arizona

Have to agree that this will not happen. We are trying to get Exxon to drill oil leases that they paid for 30 years ago. We have been trying to build a gas pipeline for years but cannot get the politicians, producers, and pipeline builders together. By the way, someone from Mississippi may have the right to discuss the destruction of pristine wilderness but I think that is up to Alaskans to determine. Drill ANWR!

Mike, Palmer, Alaska

I don't think we need/want it. We don't need to share our beautiful country Siberia with the Abramovich and Co.

JB, Siberia, Siberia

I love the idea. In any case, the U.S. needs to engender friendships right now, not animosity. A little scenic train ride from California with connections to Moscow? A few nights in the lounge car trading shots (that's vodka, by the way) with fellow travelling Muscovites? That's the best darn diplomacy two nations could possibly cook up. Gimme' a ticket. I'd jump at the chance to do it.

James P, Sacramento, California

Living on the world's largest island i would say adding to the available travel options to go global would be a benefit. The more the nations and specifically the people of a nation know one an other the better the chances for global peace. Russia is a strong country and deserves to be proud, as do the americans. Its about time they shed the remnants of the coldwar and join hands. Plus for all those paranoid about creating a travel option for a countries troops to invade on, it would be pretty easy to blow a hole in the tunnel with a submerine if required. Calm down please. Its up to the people of each country to form bonds that would make it very unlikely that if they become friends they would allow their politicians to follow paths of war. Build it i say and while your at it, please build one from Australia to mainland Asia... Lets really link all countries as steps to unifying mankind! Peace to all our brothers and sisters. Plus it may lower the price of Vodka so it cant be all bad.

Max, Sydney, Australia

<<Don't forget that the Russian Rail Gauge is not the standard one.
Gus Coutts, Edinburgh>>

Last time I checked it was standard: 1520 mm. This standard is observed in Russia, all former Soviet republic, Finland and Mongolia.

If you think that gauge in your country is "universally standard", you're wrong: USA and many Asian countries have different standards than Western Europe.

Mikhail Medved, Ust'-Kut, Russia

I reckon there will need 15-17 days for the train to arrive from NY to London since from Moscow to Vladivostok it goes 6,5 days. And I believe it is not too long for the 9300 km (5780 miles) journey through the lands with National Park-like nature. Also to tell the truth there are a lot of construction work to do. Train Moskow-Chukotka is thoroughly still exist only in Russian anecdote - there are no railway from Khabarovsk to Magadan and then to Anadyr (Chukotka), or from Nerjungry to Yakutsk and then to Anadyr. One of these routes must be built to this project to be realized, second seem being more profitable since laing through world-known resource-reach Russian regions although it about 1000 km longer.

Alexey, Novosibirsk, Russia

It would give the Mexicans a direct highway to Russia.maybe they can take that country over also.

Ned, Moscow, TN

It would be much more reasonable for Americans to invest in such projects instead of constructing those shields from Russia in Europe.
It's a pity American leaders do not understand that the two countries should be more than friendly to be successful in the changing world. No doubt it would be useful for both sides.

Vyacheslav, Moscow, Russia

this must the some kind of April 1st gag- what should be mentioned is htat it is not only a huge tunnel to be build but also 3000 miles of rail trucks on each side just to reach the tunnel- there is simply no railway close- not even in Russian terms

Tom, London, England

I see that this is viewed by some as a means for illegals to transit. I fully agree. Russia must be concerned I would imagine but could probably prevent illegal entry into their country if they put the resources into place. It would be better however is the Americans could stop the problem on their side first before the exodus to Russia occurs.

Mark Chisholm, Dereham, UK

A hole under the sea to throw money into. Yeah!!!

Bruce L. Northwood, Washington, D.C., USA

...It'd be a 64-mile long tunnel with checkpoints at either end. It's establishing an icon and a potential front line for another cold war, and that's worth objecting to. But illegal immigration? If someone had the capital to get a legit ticket on any train running through that tunnel they wouldn't be forced to illegally emigrate; we'd accept them with open arms.

Jake R., St. Louis, MO

I have an impression that we are still in seventies... Still looking for enemies: Russians, Chines, Koreans, Mexicans... Come on guys, look for friends instead! All you need is love. No one is looking forward to make war with you!

Mikhail, Rocky Point, NY

It would be a great idea to have a tunnel between the U.S. and Russia. I would fully support the effort...

George, East Northport, USA/NY

Just what we need. Another avenue for illegal entry into this country. No thank you. Perhaps the money could be put to better use by repaying the aid provided by the US after the collapse of the Soviet empire that was promptly squandered and misappropriated by corrupt Russian leaders.

Audra, Orlando, FL, USA

Its a great idea, other than the fact that it came from Pootie. Coming from him, I am suspicious.

Eddie George, Cleveland, USA

It's a two-way street, but you don't suppose that Poottypoot, would dare to try and ship Americans, off to Siberia, do you?

jalapenopecker, San Francisco, California

about a bridge to NO WHERE!

Rob, L.A., USA,CA

Why build a tunnel? There is no road from Nome to the eastern part of Alaska at the moment, and trying to get that built would be an EIR nightmare.

Mitch, Sioux Falls, SD, USA

This is really about turning Russian Siberia into a vital commercial artery for the USA and the West. Oil. Natural gas. Other natural resources. The motive is to give these powers a vital interest in making sure Siberia stays Russian. For this proposal alone, in another time Putin would have been labeled a "most most politick and sagacious prince."

charles, USA,

to Steve, San Diego
Mr. Putin get this idea from A.Granberg who worked with to Nobel laureates W.Leontief and L.Kantorovich.

I'm proud to say I now work in his team too. This project used to be considered and estimated long before Austin Powers' movie with big drill figured there. Semi dynamic input-output modeling were used to find out out payback period and all-over economy benefits, while I tried to construct methodology to estimate future regional demand on asphalt concrete road and trucks need to be met in future at Russian regions where future railway meant to be.

Alexey, Novosibirsk, Russia

Why the rush to connect with the US all of a sudden? Last I heard in the foreign "press", the world over despises America, both its government AND its citizenry!

This is all part of Putin's plans to own the Arctic and deplete the region of its natural resources. He wants American taxpayers to foot half if not all of the bill to construct a byway for his heavilly laden trucks and rail cars filled with arctic booty back to mother Russia.

And, it would be an easy access point for Chinese and Russian ground troops and military equipment when the invasion begins. And make no mistake, it is coming. Europe, of course, will be conveniently unavailable to assist us.

Vink, Manhattan, USA

Better to build a tunnel than to fight a war. We've already neglected to secure our borders. A tunnel is no big deal.

Art

Arthur L. Griffin, Williston, FL

Just another way for illegal imigrants to enter the US.

KRWood, Sydney,

Why is this story being presented as news ? This is nothing but a fantasy.

John MacInnis, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada

If you build it, they will come?

Howee, Cambridge, MA, US

it takes 7 or more days to go across Russia on a train and it isn't because the rail system is so bad but because the country is so very big... when was the last time you took a train across 10 time zones? A flight from Moscow to Ulan Ude takes the same amount of time as a flight from JFK to Moscow and that is not even close to Russia's eastern coast. Before you go and criticize their train system maybe you should check your facts!

Fred, Maples,

Talk about a bridge to nowhere, the only place more sparesly populated than Alaska is Chukotka. Still, the term transcontinental railroad does sound pretty cool.

steve, the hague, netherlands

Don't forget that the Russian Rail Gauge is not the standard one.

Gus Coutts, Edinburgh,

Awesome...So when they invade us, they won't need to use those pesky airplanes. They can come over in their winnebagos.

Sal, Deptford, NJ/USA

If this encourages more Russian women in the U.S. I'm all for it.

Dan, Seattle, USA/WA

In my opinion, in view of the Rusian/Chinese alliance, this tunnel would give a pathway for China's 200 million man army, to march on the U.S. and Canada. It is the perfect path for a trojan horse, the re-taking of Alaska and all other western world conquests that the Commies have their eyes on.

Ed Crowder, Los Angeles,

This is one of the most ridiculous ideas I've heard in a long time. First of all, there is no railroad that connects Nome, Alaska (one of the closest points to Russia) with Fairbanks or Anchorage. From Fairbanks you would have to build a railroad over 500 miles long through some of the coldest most desolate wildernesses in the world to get trains to Nome. Also in the Arctic, the permafrost is notorious for literally breaking apart the steel rails on a railroad. Could a project like this be build? Yes. The technology to build such a project exists. However, I really don't see this tunnel as being economically feasible. Therefore, it's not worth the cost to build such a project.

Chris, Springfield, MO, USA

The rail project has been under construction for a year and has been coordinated with American and Canadian officials who are part of the planning. They just have never told you. This rail line will enable you to travel from London to Buenos Aires, Argentina by rail. There is the 40 mile Darien Gap in Colombia that needs to be bridged as well as building rail lines thru Alaska to connect to Canadian lines. The Siberian line should be ready in the not too distant future. It will end at Uelen, Siberia from where the line will enter a tunnel of 64 miles across the Bering Sea crossing Big Diomede and Little Diomede islands to Wales, Alaska where it will connect to a future 2,000 km rail line to Fort Nelson, Canada.

John Walsh, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

I think it's a neat idea! Not so much for the commercial aspect, but for the possibility of increased tourism and contact.

Jeanne, Paris, France

Russia sold Alaska to USA for $7.2 mil. Now they want to spend $33bn on a tunnel.

Chuck P, London, UK

bill from minnesota,

as a russian living in US i really appreciate your comments, i wish there were more people in this country like you. but you seem to imply that russian media portrays US in a negative light and is not objective. russian media says that US ignored international law (iraq, kosovo), encircles russia with military bases and is building a missile shield that is against russia and not iran...how is this not objective?

also, it is the american people that elect the government that pursues policies that are hostile to russia (look at the candidates for president right now) so in that way russian media should NOT distinguish between the will of the elected american government and the american people..

it would be nice if american government finally abolished the cold war mentality and realized that russians who lived through ww2 and suffered greatest losses in no way shape or form want a conflict with US..but they also won't be pushed around by US.

svetlana, new york, ny, usa

Why is this board so full of Americans, do you not have your own press? Oh sorry I forgot - it serves an odious and nefarious elite and contains very little real news.

Paul , Vancouver, Canada

It's so laughable that so many people in the West, or in particular, US are still so panaroid about Russia. Isn't US the only superpower in the world who is projecting her military might over all the world?

Jim Milovic, Minneapolis, MN USA

I am reminded of the old story about building a road from Fairbanks to Nome. Projections were for very heavy traffic initially, composed mostly of the Nome residents leaving.

And remember, the big advantage of rail transport over shipping by water is speed, not cost.

Bill Briggs, Charlevoix, MI

Boy, how many narrow mined people out there! Ukraine doesn't need protection - it used to build ALL soviet intercont. missles, including "Satan" - worst case Ukraine gets out of Nuclear Non-Prof Treaty and restarts the plant in Dnepropetrovsk.
US is not threatened by rus illegals - Russia now takes 3rd place in world on illegal immigration into country, after US and Germany. Less than 1.5% of Russians today say they'd immigrate. 7-8 years later there is a great chance Americans will be looking for a new land of opportunity - US econ. rapidly goes down, Russian goes up. Even many Brits today prefer to leave UK after retirement - they can't afford to stay in UK after 60, check at BBC.
This tunnel, if built, will not make world more dangerous and will not become most popular way to travel either. At least there will be a way to cross continents by land, will be way to export and import for less and after all US will be able to learn how to build railroads right - no more roll-overs.

Serge, Donetsk, Ukraine

This is the biggest white elephant idea since .... OK the biggest ever.

How long does it take to go by train from Alaska to the markets of California? Anyone figured out why all our Chinese imports don't arrive by train on the Trans-Siberian?

Alex, Tunbridge Wells,

Putin probably has visions of un-doing "Seward's Folly". That was what critics called the USA purchase of Alaska from the Russian Czar.

Joseph Conway, Charlestown, NH USA

Well, you could transport gas, people and freight all in the same pipe. It says so in that James Bond film.

T.R.E. Hugger, Hemisphere North,

What a terrible idea. The cost of transport is nothing as compared with the benefit of not being landlocked with Russia (or China, or North Korea). Our oceans protect us, unless we start undermining that protection by allowing it to be circumvented.

Thank God that Canada doesn't own Alaska--they'd start the thing tomorrow! The US might also be so foolish, but at least there's a chance we won't do it (I hope).

I hope this never happens for as long as my grandchildren may live.

James, Brielle, New Jersey, USA

I'm not an expert, but I do wonder how safe this would be considering the two ends are on two different tectonic plates.

Matt, Ocean City,

This just gives Russia more control over transportation tools that may someday be used against us...at the very elast economically. They will milk every train with exhorbitant fees; and soon it won't be much cheaper than shipping by sea.
I agree with the comparisons to the Panama and Suez Canals. Plus it'll never be cost effective.
We'll truly get a better return on investment if we build a base on the moon or go to mars.

Bob B, Nashville, TN, USA

Can we fill this tunnel with Oil and send it from the Alaska to the mainland of America? I would be all for this idea then.

Jeff, Sea On The Sea, US

I think Putin got this idea from the first Austin Powers movie.

Steve , San Diego, CA

In reply to books
You have never travelled on an ontime, comfortable train in russian and belarus. It leaves on Time no matter the weather and is quite comfortable. and thereis shock horror even good service on board... Yes abit of a cosmetic update might help. But hey it Works better than anything I have tried in the US or UK

Darren, london,

I like Russian people. The country has a lot of soul and spirit. The popular Russian opinion of the United States isn't very favorable, but the media there sheds the US in a very negative light. At least they seem to differentiate between the American government and the American people. And really, the American government has a much harsher stance towards Russia than the American people do.

Anyway, I think the more we have in common, the better we'll get along. I'd rather be friendly with them than enemies. We have our hands full as is, and in the end, we have more in common with them on the world stage than not. And the stronger their economy gets, the more that holds true.

Bill, Minnesota, USA

It should have been done years ago! At 65 billion dollars Canada China India Japan Korea Mexico Russia and the United States should pay for this project. I am not in favor of private financing of the Bearing Strait or any other sea strait electric rail tunnel projects because these projects will not see a return on investment for at least 20 years after completion. A simple test what is shortest distant between Acapulco Mexico and Bombay (Mumbai) India it is overland through the Bering Strait. This would allow a train to go from Argentina to South Africa economically if wind power was used. The western and eastern hemisphere will have a united electric rail lines.
Shipping from Asia to the United States will be cheaper faster and more reliable then cargo ships. Europe to Asia electric rail shipping will be much cheaper and faster than cargo ships. Europe to the United States electric rail shipping via Bearing Strait tunnel may be slower than cargo ships but it will be cheaper.

Phil Gordon, Chicago, USA

Russian railroads are a different width than USA and Europe. They change the wheels at the border. Thats to keep us from invading by train! hahaha!

brad, Bayfield, CO

This tunnel would have far more utility than the Chunnel between England and France. It appears that most of the posters don't realize that if the tunnel is built, that most of the traffic through the tunnel would be finished goods from China, Korea, Japan, etc. and that Russia could charge a very high fee and still save shipping costs and time vs shipping by container ships.

And of course, it would give Russia a powerful political tool just as the Panama Canal and the Suez Canals give the people who control them.

Tom Potter, Beijing, China

The really expensive part would be to build a railroad from the existing trans-siberian railroad (or its slightly more northerly companion) diagonally for thousands of miles across Siberia from near Irkutsk to the Bering Strait. This would be through some of the coldest, most rugged and empty terrain on earth. Good luck!

Laurent, Eastchester, NY,USA

The idea does not make any sense. If you look at the map you will see that there is no way to get to Chukotka from South Siberia where the existing railoroad is. If the cost of the tunnel is about $66 Bln. then the cost of construction of connectin rail track would be at least $200 Bln. How many centuries it would take to re-pay the cost?
So, dear Americans, don't worry, Russians are not coming yet.

Anton, Urjupinsk, Russia

Re the track gage issue. If you've ever taken a train into Russia, it's very interesting. When you reach the border, they actually detach the train car from its wheels, lift the car, slide one sized wheels out and another sized in, lower the car back on and reattach. If I remember correctly it took about an hour or so. I was told at the time the different gages were done to stop invading armies from using Russia's train tracks.

Andy Battmer, Kansas City, Missouri, USA

A tunnel won't work. The same nut jobs who fought against a pipeline and oil drilling in Alaska, will try to ban more rail lines across the "pristine wilderness of the State. Only Cave Men walking across the Bering Straight would be acceptable to them.

Charles Knaack, Circleville, Ohio - USA

Leaving aside the huge construction and connectivity issues, you still could not ride a single railcar from North America through Russia. The track gages are different.

So, would the tunnel tracks be Russian gage or North American gage? Either way, cargo would have to be off-loaded and re-loaded at one side or the other.

Richard, Atlanta, USA

I live in Alaska and think this is a very bad idea. If any one wants a tunnel, let it end in your home state, not mine.

Toni, Delta Jct., Alaska/USA

Actually, the tunnel can really make sense in terms of cargo transit between Siberia and US. It is by no means about
passenger transportation, as most of US readers decided. There are many types of cargo - especially originated in Siberia - which cannot be exported by sea. This is up to the interested corporations to decide.

As to illegal immigration from Russia into US, don't be silly. In a few years, it may be Russia who might be suffering from illegal immigration from US and from Europe.

Alexander, Toronto, Canada and Russia

Well the costs for refridgerated rail cars should be minimal! I see a problem with destruction of "pristine" wilderness, Rail lines from the tunnel would certainly interfere with wildlife and their migratoy movements. The trains would have to constantly blow their horns to ward away the stray caribu. But then the wolves would have "rail kill" to feed from, reducing pressure on the moving herds. It is possibly a plot to increase the sales of books of the old Russian authors where they were paid by the page to write, as the train ride would allow for the time to read them.

Richard, Carriere, US/Mississippi

russian rail system is outdated and needs large investment before you make any trip London to New York. currently it takes about 5 days (if not more) and nights to get from Moscow to Chukotka (most eastern point of Russia). that's how bad rail system is.

books, new york, us/ny

I'm embarrassed to be in the same country as David. We'd still be riding horses & dying of the flu if that mentality prevailed in the last century.

Medicare is a recent phenomenon & evidence of a broken system. Ever since the government got involved in healthcare in the 60's the costs have spiraled out of control. The answer to better healthcare is to kick the government, insurers, and lawyers out. Sure there's room for high level safety (FDA), catastrophic insurance, and basic liability... but the fact is that while these institutions have made some things safer, they put much of modern technology out of reach for most people. Get them out & you'll have more people receiving better healthcare. Keep them, & you'll eventually hit a brick wall where the system collapses.

Jim, Ann Arbor, MI

This would be a good way to efficiently move cargo to or from the continental United States to or from the east. The environmental nut jobs should like this idea, too, given the incredile energy efficiency of trains versus trucks or flight.

Kevin, Washington, DC, United States

Thirty three billion may be super cheap if we need direct land access to Russia's market for natural resources.

Chuck W., Chicago, USA

It's the worst idea I've heard in many years.

Vaag, farmington, mn/usa

Didn't we already vote against a "Bridge to Nowhere"? Don't see how this is any different. How much traffic do we really expect to be flowing from the outer reaches of Siberia into the outer reaches of Alaska? This just doesn't make sense on any level. Comparisons to Chunnel are absurd. So is the idea that this will have any impact on Global Warming.

BJ, Spokane, USA

If it's only a railroad tunnel, it won't fly here. A combined auto/railroad tunnel might go over better. The U.S. is a very auto happy country. We sure love our cars. Would the Russians allow us to drive our own cars in Siberia? What about China and other Asian countries?

Ed, Richfield, Utah

A little problem about the rail connections between London and New York - there is no rails between Chukotka and central Russia. You must use reindeers to reach the tunnel. Otherwise, Great News!

Serg, Moscow, Russia

Am seriously thinking that with fuel costs so high, a tunnel linking our continent with Asia might be a great deal. Am thinking the interstate highway system of the US is going to fail as fuel costs rise and the small, independant transport owners/operators are forced to close down. Rail is coming back, and I'm thinking this "tunnel" could bring our few products to the world market. We can no longer afford to transport our products interstate or across the globe with tings as they are just now. Rail, supported by, or operated by the government, may just work (doubtful, seeing government brought us NAFTA, et al.). . We can't look to entrepreneurs to do it. There's no profit and being a profit-driven nation, we can't take on being here for all. We are here for ourselves. That's why we are in this mess. Just a random thought.

Pete Kutsick, Clearfield, USA/PA

Not only there is no infrastructure in Alaska to support such a connection, but there is nothing on the side as well. So-called federal highways in Siberia are a joke with no pavement. BAM and Trans_Siberian railroad run thousands of miles south of Kamchatka, and the weather in northern Siberia is so inhospitable, that the tunnel will be closed for off-season half for at least 6 months every year.

Comparison to Channel Tunnel is totally inappropriate: there you have 2 well developed countries with a lot of infrastructure on either end of the connector, in Bering straights you have Tundra on one side and more Tundra on another. What are you connecting with what? It makes as much sense to discuss a tunnel from Argentina to Antarctica. Only because they are close enough does not mean you should do it.

Michael, Marietta, GA

Why? We don't want to go there.

RufusLeeKing, Sacramento, CA USA

Russia and democracy is an oxymoron. The government is killing and imprisoning opponents.
Instead of democracy it is going back to its Stalinist past.

Ray Magee, Hollywood, FL

Sure - then we can become the Peoples Republic of Mexamericanda ! When does the madness end? We will have Russians pouring over THAT border, while Mexicans and illegals from other countries keep coming up here.

Again...LEGAL immigrants, we likee. ILLEGAL immigrants, no likee.

Gary, Cleveland , USA/Ohio

Even if this rail tunnel were built, where would the trains go? The only major railroad in Alaska only runs between Seward and Fairbanks and is not connected to the lower 48, except via barge. Even if the Alaska Railroad were connected to the rest of the continent via Yukon (a big 'if'), the Bering Strait isn't exactly next to Fairbanks. There is significant terrain in between. The tunnel is a dream, or a distraction. And if Russia is serious about building a tunnel with its friend the United States, why does it "need" to aim missiles to neighboring Ukraine in retaliation for joining an alliance that includes its friend. I think there is a few more issues to work out here.

Elena Johnson, Seward, Alaska

The channel tunnel was laughed at for hundreds of years too, but it has brought the UK and Europe closer together than any would have thought. I think it's a great idea, and good for carbon output as well. Tunnels bring us together more than airliners ever will. What is there to be afraid of, more tourists to Alaska and Canada? We should consider this as a medium term option, say 20 years?

Steve, New Yotk, NY

Now we can look forward to illegal immigration from Russia and China too!

Before building roads to Siberia, let's go ahead and find a way to fix the potholes in America.

Brian, McKinleyville, USA / California

While we are at it lets just add a chinese military bootcamp and a terrorist training camp in the mid west

Robert, Shreveport, la

Great. Now, instead of a 6 hour flight from NY to London, I can take a 6 day train ride.

Chris, Atlanta, GA

£33 billion, and we still need to pay for Medicare, our country is in debt. Bridge is nice but in reality its just another expense our country cannot afford.

David, Clearwater, Florida

Cool, I like the tunnel idea or bridge or both,haha .I think it is a cheaper and safer way then flying. The nato idea is only a way of causing conflict with many different countries. Ukraine does not need military protection from russia because russia is a developing democracy! If russia does not develope democracy and changes its focus on becoming a friendly nation ,then NATO can give ukraine fast membership and emergency aid if russia tries terroist take over.

george, pensacola,florida, florida ,usa