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Thanks for the interesting details! > None of the current infrastructure is built to deal with these train lengths, either, so everything moves slower. Is it

by pas 5y ago

Thanks for the interesting details! > None of the current infrastructure is built to deal with these train lengths, either, so everything moves slower. Is it due to extra freight demand caused by the recent surge in consumer demand? Or this was long way in the making, but the system's capacity seems to have basically topped out? (And any effort to move even more freight on this network will cost a lot more and cause a lot more pain and very likely fatalities for the humans involved?) What's the "solution"? Building more tracks? Running more but smaller trains? (But I guess the trains are already long to keep fuel costs down?)

brnaftr361 5y ago
Here's the STB hearing. Timestamped to one of the more articulate old-head: https://youtu.be/Q0rk5tnrFqA?t=9300 https://youtu.be/Q0rk5tnrFqA?t=9300 I think their new-fangled methods are crippling their ability to service the surge. I think their reputation and their current working environment has cost them people. I think all this has exacerbated the problem. If you Google Surface Transportation Board you'll find several articles about C1s being implicated in kneecapping business. The megatrains are pretty old hat, they were being discussed while I was still in, 2017 or 2018. Shortly thereafter they started piloting the program. The problem is they just can't be accommodated, period. 150 car trains are bad enough, 270 cars and 6 engines is way worse. Sidings, yards, and loading facilities aren't built for it.