Thalys -- tunnel outside Leiden

[DingDong]

I'm on the Thalys headed from Schiphol to Paris now. Just went through an enormous tunnel outside Leiden. Does anyone know the point of that tunnel? The train is going through flat farmland and it seems a very odd place to build a very long tunnel.

 

[jis]

I'm on the Thalys headed from Schiphol to Paris now. Just went through an enormous tunnel outside Leiden. Does anyone know the point of that tunnel? The train is going through flat farmland and it seems a very odd place to build a very long tunnel.

Avoiding congestion on the existing lines without disrupting existing city blocks? Not very uncommon at all. E.g. the Narita Express Line through Tokyo, the new tunnel under Antwerp etc.

Heck if Amtrak plans come to fruition in 30 years there may be such a tunnel under Manhattan NY, Philadelphia PA, and Baltimore MD too.

 

[DingDong]

According to wikipedia, "This tunnel was built to protect the character of the Groene Hart region."

 

[guest]

...which means "Green Heart". They make a sincere effort in Europe to preserve farmland and other open space whenever possible, especially in the Low Countries where arable land is at a premium.