Monday, November 17, 2008

Baghdad Subway

We've seen this before in the OPEC states. In Baghdad they are building a subway. Where are they getting the money? It seems they are giving it the ole PPP. From the Guardian:

"This is one of Baghdad's most important projects and we hope that investors will join it," he said. "We have called for tenders from them and we have some money to contribute from the government. We are planning to start work as early as next year.

"This has been postponed so many times because of war and chaos but this time we are sure it will happen."

It will likely connect in to a national rail network that already exists and will allow dense Baghdad to move a little easier. But the biggest discussion is on security. I understand the fear of bombings, but I don' t see why that should lead to not building something beneficial. This will be a huge construction project that will get people to work, I don't know why we didn't start building it earlier with all that money we sent over for reconstruction. Seems to me that by putting people to work, that's less people to get angry over conditions.

5 comments:

Unknown said...

"I don't know why we didn't start building it earlier with all that money we sent over for reconstruction."

Because Halliburton doesn't make money building subways.

Anonymous said...

its sad when its easier to build a subway in baghdad than along wilshire or geary blvds.

although it appears it just got a little easier for san jose to get its subway
(absolutely amazing, hope it holds up [knock on wood])

Anonymous said...

Back when I made an earlier visit to Urbanrail.net five years ago (when it was known as Metropla.net), I saw something at the front saying that bombs will not build a subway in Baghdad. It was apparently just there for a time.

Of course Halliburton doesn't make money building subways. It makes money from oil, which is exactly what this war that should end is all about. I've been against it right from the beginning.

Alon Levy said...

its sad when its easier to build a subway in baghdad than along wilshire or geary blvds.

It's always easier to build in cities where wages are lower and there's less infrastructure and industrial development to run against. If you think Wilshire's hard, you don't want to know how long New York and London take to build new lines.

Anonymous said...

I agree. Certainly thats how NYC and London got their original lines 100 years ago and Chinese cities now. But Baghdad is also right in the middle of a war.