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Rail networks can be easily sabotaged, and therefore suck. That's why the US for the most part uses trucks not trains. Interestingly, the max-flow min-cut the

Rail networks can be easily sabotaged, and therefore suck. That's why the US for the most part uses trucks not trains. Interestingly, the max-flow min-cut theorem was apparently developed as a way to find the best way to sabotage railroads (i.e.: how to cause to cause the most harm with the fewest "cuts" = sabotage).

retox 5y ago
I'm completely ignorant on the topic, are pipelines not easily sabotaged?
- 29athrowaway 5y ago
  Pipelines can transport oil continuously and quickly but they leak all the time.
wolverine876 5y ago
> Rail networks can be easily sabotaged, and therefore suck. > That's why the US for the most part uses trucks not trains. Do you mean, that's why the U.S. built infrastructure around interstate highways and not rail? Why did European countries and other places conclude differently? Is there anything you can recommend reading about it? The more scholarly the better.
stadium 5y ago
> That's why the US for the most part uses trucks not trains Nope. The interstate highway system followed the railroad system. It also followed world war 2. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_Highway_System https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_Highway_System Rail infra investment stopped after ww2 and never restarted. All of these railroad engine power train tech improvements may have happened, but the rails on ground infrastructure peaked in the 1950's . Interstate highways also made most of the US accessable to heavy aircraft in case an emergency airport needed to be assembled on short notice. It's a network of runways. Interestingly, the German Autobahn has a lot more curves, but it's debatable if that is to make them harder to bomb or to keep drivers awake. Also many US cities had full fledged local rail systems that were paved over to make way for roads and cars.
- 29athrowaway 5y ago
  Were interstate highways designed to be used as emergency airstrips in case of war? No, they were not. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/landing-of-hope-and-glory/ https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/landing-of-hope-and-glory/
  - stadium 5y ago
    I never heard of the 1-in-5 thing. The runway concept was something my dad used to talk about.

retox 5y ago

I'm completely ignorant on the topic, are pipelines not easily sabotaged?

29athrowaway 5y ago
Pipelines can transport oil continuously and quickly but they leak all the time.

wolverine876 5y ago

> Rail networks can be easily sabotaged, and therefore suck. > That's why the US for the most part uses trucks not trains. Do you mean, that's why the U.S. built infrastructure around interstate highways and not rail? Why did European countries and other places conclude differently? Is there anything you can recommend reading about it? The more scholarly the better.

stadium 5y ago

> That's why the US for the most part uses trucks not trains Nope. The interstate highway system followed the railroad system. It also followed world war 2. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_Highway_System https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_Highway_System Rail infra investment stopped after ww2 and never restarted. All of these railroad engine power train tech improvements may have happened, but the rails on ground infrastructure peaked in the 1950's . Interstate highways also made most of the US accessable to heavy aircraft in case an emergency airport needed to be assembled on short notice. It's a network of runways. Interestingly, the German Autobahn has a lot more curves, but it's debatable if that is to make them harder to bomb or to keep drivers awake. Also many US cities had full fledged local rail systems that were paved over to make way for roads and cars.

29athrowaway 5y ago
Were interstate highways designed to be used as emergency airstrips in case of war? No, they were not. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/landing-of-hope-and-glory/ https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/landing-of-hope-and-glory/
- stadium 5y ago
  I never heard of the 1-in-5 thing. The runway concept was something my dad used to talk about.