3/gallon gas comming soon

[sidewinder]

There are many points here and no perfect solution. I agree and disagree with many. You have a point about trains, they haul more at less cost using less fuel, but they still have to use refrigeration cars to keep items from spoiling. Trains also have to share common tracks that are few in number and poorly maintained. To effect the repair and replacement of rails to accomodate all these trains would be very costly. I love trains, wish we used more, but that is really going to be expensve to get up to the capacity needed to take over from trucking and you will always have end point trucks to go from rail to store. Lastly, I am an American, I served my country for 23 years in the Military. Our country is founded on freedom and the right to choose. I like small economy cars. I am fuel conscious, but also I believe it should be an individuals choice what they drive. If you want a 16 cylinder Bugati Veron have at it, if you can afford it. I hate having people tell me what I can and can't have. We all need to get along, but with respect for one another.

[sbergman27]

Originally Posted by sidewinder

There are many points here and no perfect solution. I agree and disagree with many. You have a point about trains, they haul more at less cost using less fuel, but they still have to use refrigeration cars to keep items from spoiling. Trains also have to share common tracks that are few in number and...

I'm not quite sure what point or points you are trying to make. Trains can transport goods on a fraction of the fuel that trucks use. I'm not sure what was the utility of bringing up refrigeration for perishable goods, since they both need it, and fuel consumption due to that is a small fraction of the fuel used for the actual transport. Arguably, trains would be in a position to run the refrigeration more efficiently.

The existing rails are severely *underutilized*, in case you haven't noticed, and already run to every major, and a good portion of minor, cities in the United States. Mainly, we'd need to build more trains.

At any rate, even if the infrastructure *were* a major problem, it still wouldn't make sense to continue subsidizing the horrendously inefficient trucking industry. It's an ongoing money pit and an ongoing fuel pit. Any money spent toward shifting away from that and back to the remarkably efficient rail system would be an excellent investment. It would be really hard to make a good argument otherwise, though I'm certain that the trucking industry would give it a try. Their best bet there would probably be some high profile disinformation campaign.

-Steve

[GeneralDon7]

Were at 2.79 (lowest), and costs 24 to fill up now compared to 17, 8 months ago.