To: pgerassi who wrote (124241 ) 9/19/2000 12:34:14 PM From: hmaly Read Replies (1) | Respond to Pete ...Re..<Freight trains are surviving and even thriving once intermodal was allowed by the RR regulators (the exact name escapes me at the moment). Long haul trucking costs too much when fuel costs go up. Two engineers (operators) can haul 200 to 400 semi trailers worth over thousands of miles far faster than any trucking company can do it for quite a bit less money (although somewhat more hassle). Passenger rail thrives when high traffic routes are maintained properly (Boston to Washington corridor or things like Chicago Metro). <<<< ). If the rail track was maintained by the government like the interstate is, railroads would be very profitable for hauling freight and still hauling passengers. There is less cost to building a double track mainline than a four lane interstate and the exits (train stations) are much cheaper as well. If intermodal for passengers was as cheap as for freight, there would be much more traffic for long range travel.<<< If this was done, you would see much more passengers and freight going by train.<<<
