How much does it cost to build a whole railroad track over or around mountains?

Question

i really, REALLY need this information for a project. it would be of much appreciation if someone could supply me this info. thanks!

Answer 1

i think the latest estimates for rail and roadbed is right about a million dollars a mile

but if you have to do tons of earthwork crossing mountains it is going to be lots more, many times more

without knowing more about the size or extent of the mountains it is impossible to say more.

for instance, are you digging tunnels or building huge trestles over canyons?

Answer 2

A million a mile in wide open flat country.

In the mountains, it varies WILDLY.  Your railroad can only gain 2 feet in 100 feet of run (less in curves), so look at the geography and figure out a route that'll work.  Sometimes the mountain makes that easy, sometimes hard.  Depends on the mountain and the pass you choose.

Many possible routes will appear, it's ALL about costing those routes, i.e. determining cost of necessary bridges and tunnels, and the effect that route will have on speed and operating costs.  

Theodore Judah crossed the Sierra by noticing that there were two major ridges, except at one point.  That's where he crossed, so he only had to cross one ridge instead of two.

The Nevada Northern Railway was in Eureka Nevada and wanted to get east to Ely.  But the mountains were treacherous, so instead they took a totally different way, coming south in the flatland valley from Shafter (Wendover) to Ely.  Smart move.

The Swiss were sick of their trains spending hours climbing the spiral tunnels and switchbacks up to Gotthard tunnel.  So they're building Gotthard Base tunnel at incredible expense all the way across the Alps, giving them a totally flat, straight route. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotthard_Ba...

Answer 3

last i heard was what rango said.  Around $1,000,000 per mile which included dirt work, switches, ballast, etc. Though i cannot see it including extensive bridge structures.  This is for single track.  I would assume that the cost would slightly decrease if more than one track is being laid at a time.

Answer 4

Which mountains?

Answer 5

$2 million is a closer estimate of a new mile of regular track, I'd add 50% for hilly conditions.