Kalistani Major History

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18 years into the Project, Vrassa Northern connects to Port Swedes
President Elect Danielle Diaz on hand to dedicated line connecting to Yoshimi
Port Swedes, Vrassa
October 30, 5345


President Elect Danielle Diaz speaks before a small crowd at Dedication Ceremony

Vrassa Northern Railway officially opened the Port Swedes terminus of the National Magnetic Levitation Railway today, 18 years after the project started in Sulari. The terminus marks the completion of the transnational rail line, which has travelled 2070 miles up the coasts of Suldanor, Odufray and Vrassa. The President Elect was on hand to dedicate the railway to the People of Kalistan and the 25 workers who lost their lives in the Tunnel 16 tragedy a year and a half ago.

"This mammoth undertaking creates the first transnational magnetic Levitation railway system in the world," said President Elect Diaz, of the Socialist Party. "With it, we expect to be able to travel across the country by rail in just over 10 hours. This may be a longer trip than air travel, but it will ultimately be less expensive, kinder to our environment, and better for tourists who wish to visit other parts of the Republic. We thank the workers for all of their efforts during this generational effort, as well as our private sector partners for their generous contribution to the infrastructure of Kalistan."

The President addressed the tragedy in what has come to be known as Tunnel 16. "Just over a year and a half ago, 25 members of the third shift were constructing a tunnel for this railway, when an earthquake, we now know was the result of intensive drilling in striated sandstone, caused the mountain the tunnel was passing through to collapse. 19 workers were immediately killed, while more than 65 were injured in the tunnel collapse. The 6 most seriously injured eventually succumbed to their wounds and died before rescuers could get to the trapped crew 6 days after the events of that day. While we lost those 25, the remaining members of the work crew were reunited with their families. The families who lost loved ones that week will not be forgotten by this Republic."

Following a moment of silence for the lost, The President read an official declaration from the National Assembly: "We, the people of the Republic of Kalistan, do hereby dedicate this National MagLev Railway. May it ever serve all people along its lines with equality of access and convenience of travel." The President then smashed a bottle of Yoshimi Rum over the first car destined to travel the entire railway from Port Swedes to Yoshimi. As the people filed aboard for the maiden trans-national voyage, the President took a few questions.

She was asked why the dedication was happening in Port Swedes instead of Addisjah, which was intended to be the original final terminus. "Vrassa Northern, and I don't mean to speak for them, but this is what was told to me, had decided after the Tunnel 16 accident to abandon, for the time being, the route from Port Swedes to Addisjah. As we understand, there is no interest in Lodamun for a rail linkup with the terrestrial cargo railway, or a link into the Northern Seleyan Rail Network, which we had talked about, when I was a girl, actually, and so there doesn't seem to be a point in running this maglev to Addisjah to make a link up that will never cross the Jah River from Lodamun. A link will eventually be made in Phase 2, but this station officially completes Phase 1."

Diaz was asked about future construction in Vrassa and Nevaras. "It's only a matter of time before Vrassa City and cities on the Plateau are linked in," said the President Elect. "And from there, Nevaras will also see construction, especially in the Central Valley. We expect Nevaras City and Vilbin to be linked in within the next 10 years, and Vrassa City connected within 15, to complete the original routes that were planned in the 30 year plan. But of course, infrastructure costs money, and we are continuing to look to Private investors to make up about 40 percent of the cost of the construction. Additionally, we want to connect Lucid City in Suldanor, along with Temmon and Ulsur City via spurs that go out from Hubs where practical. Again. All of that costs money, part of which will be generated by the operation of the part of the line we have open."

When asked how long she expects construction on the MagLev Railway to take, the President was optimistic. "We should see Phase 2 construction on the Mainland completed within 15 years. After that, it will be up to the rail operating companies under the NTOC to continue construction as budgets permit and demand requires. As for Ananto, They have not begun on developing a maglev operating company yet, and I am told that it will likely be another 5 years before they even do, as the demand on the Island is obviously less, while anticipated construction costs border prohibitive due to the volcanic soil and mountain ranges across most of the Island."

Before leaving on the first Trans National voyage of the MagLev, the President Elect waved at the small crowd that turned out to see the dedication. "While this is the work of my predecessors, and I merely happen to be running for office in the upcoming special election, I, like all citizens of this Republic will benefit from the forward looking vision of those who planned this line, gave not only their dollars, but their sweat and yes, their blood to see it brought to life, and all its supporters throughout our Republic. We now take a trip into the future, as Kalistan leaps forward in the field of modern infrastructure." With that, President Elect Diaz took her seat, waved goodbye to the small crowd and the train whisked off on a magnetic field, rapidly accelerating to a speed of 245 miles an hour as it coursed through the Vrassan Countryside.