[Centurion2000]

A second interstate system, a wonderful, progressive, idea.

We have one ... it's called a railroad.

[Clinging Bitterly]

Some LTL carriers are starting to throw more trailers onto rail for long hauls. It is very slow. My factory's midwest distribution centers deliver to Eugene in 3 days on most of the quality nationwide carriers. The choo-choo trains can't touch that. But some carriers now offer intermodal service at a reduced rate and that is attractive in some circumstances.

So there is a place for everything, but a lot of the freight you see on the highway is your groceries, and I like mine to be reasonably fresh. At the same time, as part of a chain of construction equipment dealerships, I can tell you there would be rioting at my shops if I couldn't economically deliver the goods to my customers in the time frame we have at present. I had a shipment from Michigan misrouted to intermodal not long ago and it was an ugly scene.

[relictele]

We have one ... it's called a railroad.

Not around here....all the nature lovers around here have pulled up the rails to make biking/hiking trails.

I understand smaller trucks making in-town/regional deliveries but I've never understood why the railroad with its potential for 24/7 motion and vast freight-to-personnel ratio is not the dominant means of moving goods especially with fuel prices, road congestion, etc. Many tractor-trailers I have seen make deliveries are usually less than half full (although that's anecdotal).

[gura]

A second interstate system, a wonderful, progressive, idea.

We have one ... it's called a railroad.

Why would you use infrastructure you have to maintain when you can just start a trucking company and use the public's?