[muawiyah]

Actually, there are a couple of more things ~ one of them is that Freight does not have the same time and comfort constraints required for humans and therefore can spend more time sitting on a siding and ride on rougher rails.

Since freight traffic is going to pay for rail upkeep and force scheduling, passenger rail systems can never share the same right of way as freight! And, without rails, passenger rail systems will need ENORMOUS SUBSIDIES forever ~ plus, competing forms of transportation (personal automobiles, and airplanes) are more comfortable than the best rail passenger system under any conditions.

I'm betting on AUTOMATED AUTOMOBILES and an entirely new concept of transportation. These devices will turn into a utility.

[SoCal Pubbie]

How do you explain the current passenger routes sharing rights of way with freight now?

[DakotaGator]

My rule of thumb was that freight made the expenses, mail made the profit, and passengers made the cake.

Of course, government cannot understand any of that.