Interesting topic. Use of rail in the US for cargo and passenger is so far behind the rest of the world. I wonder if the teamsters actually have the power to stop rail development or if it's other reasons.

I think rail takes longer to get to the customers warehouse

I guess it depends what you are shipping and time sensitivity plays a huge role.

You still have to get the product from the rail to the customer

My understanding is rail is more effective for bulk materials and piggy back multimodal long distance, while trucking is most effective 500 miles or less. Just what I've heard, I no facts to support this.

I would say this is an accurate statement. The union argument holds no water. Rail unions are much stronger and widespread compared to trucking. Trucking unions are few and far between nowadays. I can only think of a handful of trucking companies that are still union.

Rail is messed up in the United States because of how they were created in the 19th century. In hindsight, it was poor policy to have the railroads build/own the tracks. Imagine an airline system where Delta owned ATL and United owned ORD. Or a highway system in which J.B. Hunt owned the PA Turnpike and YRC owned route 80.

You must have forgotten that part about how the government essentially got in bed with the railroad companies and forced the taxpayers to pay for the rails and let the railroad companies take the profit.

They do the same with the airports.

It's called socialism.

And yes, air travel would be much better without the government involved.

Industry is so great at coming up with their own safety regulations. We should probably get rid of building codes, minimum wage, and fire alarms too.

Have you never heard of ISO or UL?

That was not how it worked at all. It involved public stock, bonds and land grants.

I have!

One is a standing joke, the other is not enforced on imported goods.