Anyone read or hear about this norfolk southern crap?

Competition between rail and Trucking is nothing new. But as the cost of fuel rises, the efficiency of rail becomes more attractive to shippers. It's often times slower, and doesn't go point to point as big trucks do. But you just can't deny the facts.

 

The railways have been tearing out their infastructure for years now (hence all those "rail trails"). I don't see how they can turn around overnight. Even if trains do take more of our freight, it won't happen immediately. The infastructure needs to be rebuilt for that to happen.

And remember, trucks displaced trains. That happened for a reason.

 

There is just no way that the railroad can compete on some types of freight. Now on non time critical stuff, sure they can. But when you look at JIT freight, there is no way they can do it.

 

Agreed. In order for the railroad to compete now, they would have to buy more rails as a LOT of rail lines are now GONE. They would have to buy land, which would cost a fortune. In order for the railroad to truly compete within trucking these days, there would, literally, have to be BILLIONS on end to update infrastructure and even acquire more. Basically those ads are just a "feel good" for americans that hate truckers. Plus, just how much freight can one train pull? I mean they say, on the ad, [one ton of freight on one gallon of diesel]...or some crap, just paraphrasing there...but, they sure don't mention the total tonnage and that is for a reason. They are VERY slick and sly with their advertising.

Just think, Barbara Streisand doesn't want windmills in the ocean by her house...because she said it would spoil her "view." Think she will let a railroad come on by? Not going to happen. Our entire system is not built for rails anymore. They can compete, like some others said, on MASS freight that isn't anywhere NEAR time sensitive, but as we all know, americans "can't wait."

 

I just wonder how many tons of pollutants are created as a result of cars and trucks waiting at railroad crossings. Was that listed among the findings of that "green" report?

 

Yada Yada Yada! So much for feel good green... So we have more congestion at rail yards with trucks waiting for trailes to come off trains, more poulition in those nighbourhoods, tons more road repairs in local areas that can hardly do the job now. Look at Il arears that say not in my neighbourhood! Trains at all hours of the day and night, plus the trucks...
I still haven't got how they figure rail mile per ton on a gallon of fuel but tats another story...

 

Those television ads are just that, advertising. The rail stocks had been doing quite well since oil/gas prices were on the increase. I'd imagine they've dropped off a bit recently. Interesting that rails actually do better when the cost of their fuel increases, only because it impacts OTR trucking even harder.

 

Guess I shouldn't tell you guys I am a railfan?