BNSF Adds Third Rail Line through Cajon Pass

I should not imply that I notice intermodal reefers today, but I will look for them. The refrigeration unit will have to be within the contour of the box. In my day, the rail reefers were trailer-on-flat-car or TOFC. A nose mount or belly mount unit was no problem because the boxes were never stacked.

 

The railroads tout how much fuel can be saved by pulling trucks on trains compared to the Interstate. (Something like 460 miles to 1 gallon of gas) It's business, and how does a business survive, by making money and getting you to use their product. Also remember that trains carrying trucks can only carry them so far, yes they do use local trucks , but there are just as many destinations that trucks go the trains can't get to. Plus, trains have to meet other trains, and they have to wait for crews at crew change points, they have to interchange between railroads, and they have to get loaded and unloaded. All while this is happening, we're still rolling. I think the railroads will get a lot of the transcon traffic but I doubt very seriously will the railroad put OTR trucking out of business.

 

yes there are reefers on trains. also on ships . at sea they are hooked to on board power.

 

Rail will eventually take on more OTR freight. There are a number of technologies that will allow rails to do much more than even today. But this will be a very slow and gradual process. No driver has to worry about suddenly huge amounts of work vanishing by the day.

The rail line is just part of the picture. When I drove hostlers in BNSF's Hobart yard, they were often short of equipment. And they were understaffed for the work at that time. It will probably be years before they can saturate that line.

Anyone who remains very fearful, just apply at BNSF. Probably make more money and be home more often.

The rails have been moving plenty of reefers, containers and trailers. I've seen dozens on the same train, going back to 2002.