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In the U.S. they often double stack containers--so that would be half the distance if they could: "Invented in the United States in 1984, it is now being used
by pasttense01 3y ago
In the U.S. they often double stack containers--so that would be half the distance if they could:
"Invented in the United States in 1984, it is now being used for nearly seventy percent of United States intermodal shipments. Using double stack technology, a freight train of a given length can carry roughly twice as many containers, sharply reducing transport costs per container."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double-stack_rail_transport https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double-stack_rail_transport
But generally going around the southern tip of South America could well be cheaper--although it may take longer.
- Ringz 3y agoYou're right about that. However, this probably only works with diesel-powered locomotives and not with electrified railway systems.
- EasyMark 3y agowhy wouldn't it apply to electrified railways? I mean it's all energy in the end. I'm sure they make electric motors powerful enough and you can pull your own batteries as part of the load.
- Ringz 3y agoThe clearance above the train. You have to rebuild every passenger transportation train to work with higher clearance or you build a dedicated railway system only for transportation. Neither financial nor ecologically sustainable.
- EasyMark 3y agoI mean it would seem to be an innovation but "invention" seems like a stretch as there is nothing new about stacking stuff. I mean it should be a staightforward idea/extrapolation for any "good" mechanical engineer familiar with railroads and trains?