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Since the advent of containers, a huge amount of freight is shipped by rail, especially from coastal ports to inland hubs. Trucks are used for shipments to mor
by ams6110 9y ago
Since the advent of containers, a huge amount of freight is shipped by rail, especially from coastal ports to inland hubs.
Trucks are used for shipments to more local warehouses or retail/factory locations that don't have rail access. And no, it's not feasible to build a rail spur to every warehouse or Wal-mart.
- dredmorbius 9y agoInterestingly, previously, you did see spur lines to many facilities which today are served by truck. Low-speed (15 - 30 mph) tracked autonomous vehicles for local ("last 10 - 20 mile") delivery might very much make sense. It's a lot easier to focus on things like traffic control and hazard detection (including people on tracks) when your wheels literally hold you to the road.
- posguy 9y agoShort lines & spurs have nearly all been spun off into small, local railroad companies as BNSF, UP & CNX don't want to deal with the expensive, time consuming short lines. The major rail companies would much rather move mile long trains hundreds of miles on well maintained track, and let the short lines fend for themselves, barely scraping by, running trains at a few miles an hour (as they can't afford proper track maintenance.
- dredmorbius 9y agoMany of them started as local-only, "short-line" railroads in the first place.