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

[Russ Johnson]

* Brent Rieck <bsr at spek.org> [2003-12-11 11:06]:
> Paul Johnson wrote:
> >If not underused for freight.  Really clueless to use semis to take
> >goods between cities served by the railroads, since the railroads will
> >get the job done faster and more reliably.
> 
> It sounds like you don't do a lot of shipping besides the occasional 
> package with UPS.  I don't either, but my SO moves around millions of 
> pounds of metal around the world each month and often rail is neither 
> the fastest or the most reliable here in the USA.

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. 

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. 

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

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

Trains are scheduled, and as such, they need a certain load to be worth
the trip for the rail line. This is why you get rail cars that sit,
waiting for more load. 

Now, if we reduced or illiminated the long haul trucks, then there would
be more freight on rails, and consequently, economy of scale kicks in,
and the cost of shipping a smaller load would go down. 

There's a lot more to it, but that's a general idea. 

-- 
Russ Johnson
Dimension 7/Stargate Online
http://www.dimstar.net

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