Posted on 11/12/2007 3:31:55 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Wrong, and wrong again. The railroad had all their system in place and refused as the have today to adapt to the times. Railroads may be cost effective on large bulk, but they are not efficient when it comes to time and distance. In short it was taking a train load of freight on the order of three weeks from the west coast to the east coast and that was just time on the train. You would spend another week are two getting the containers on and off the train. That was a few years ago but I don't think they have improved much.
I don’t believe the Teamsters ever represented railroad workers to any significant degree. I believe they are mostly represented by railway unions like locomotive engineers, and others. Maybe I’m wrong.
The ICC is now gone, replaced by the Surface Transportation Board (STB) who exercises minimal oversight to assure that railroading remains competitive.
Now the railroads, without the ICC are investing Billions in infrastructure and equipment. They are now able to price their services to reflect competition.
Railroads are competitive in time and cost with trucks over long distances. Ask UPS!
The ideal combination is railroads for the long distance and trucks for the “last mile.”
While you are waiting at the railroad crossing for 4 or 5 minutes, just think about it, that train has kept 200 trucks off of the Interstate you were just on.
Why should I ask ups, I know better. Show me a current study proving it, are better yet show me the produce containers shipped with fresh produce from California to new york.
Look for the containers that have refeers on them, riding on the railroad well car. Also look for all the climate controlled cars also on the railroads.
It there if you know what to look for.
BTTT
“Can’t wait for all the hoopla when they decide this new railroad will have to be routed through someone’s backyard.”
The new TTCs 69 and 35 will go through an untold number of backyards.
This process is nothing new.
It might be much less likely to derail, but no system is failure proof. As long as these folks don't actually believe their own hype, things will probably work pretty well.
In big chunks of Texas, interstates don't have medians - they have concrete barriers.
But, no, they aren't talking about the interstates. The article does make clear they are talking about the TTC. "Those involved in the project envision it setting up along the proposed Trans-Texas Corridor 69"
Corridor 69? What an unfortunate choice of numbers.
OTOH, it’s a perfect statement of the relationship between the government and corporate interests in this project.
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