[PLUG-TALK] Re: [PLUG] OT License plates and covers.

[Brent Rieck]

Russ Johnson wrote:
> The rails "should" be faster, and less expensive. This is not the case
> at this point basically because disuse has caused our rail
> infrustructure to deteriorate to the point where it's not economical to
> use rail any more. 

I'm no expert on the rail system, I'm sure there's one or two people 
lurking who are, but from what I've read the infrastructure has 
deteriorated because of "penny-wise and pound-foolish" planning on how 
to allocate money for maintaining infrastructure.  While disuse comes 
from a high level of resistance to change how they operate so they can 
service freight needs in an age when roads go everywhere rails do too.

> Rail is still very useful and economical for a lot of industries that
> move goods on a regular basis. Case in point, the auto industry. Cars
> come out of the factory or ships and are loaded on rail cars. 

It is still good for things like that - though in the universe of 
shipping "stuff" I bet they're vastly outnumbered by things that don't 
fit that pattern.

> I suspect your SO moves millions of pounds of metal, but not always from
> the same place, to the same place. 

The origins are not always the same, the destinations are always the 
same however: shipyards on the west and east coasts, all of which have 
rail lines heading into them.

> Currently, where it's not economical is for businesses that ship things
> on an irregular basis.

It really depends on what you're shipping, where you're at, and where 
you're shipping it to, not how frequently you need to ship it.

--Brent