Trains are efficient
Courtesy Sean Lamb When it comes to moving tons of freight, freight trains are very efficient (barges or ships might be even better). Someone asked FactCheck.org
"Can a freight train really move a ton of freight 436 miles on a gallon of fuel?" (click link to read)
Seven major railroad companies reported the following for 2007:
The Association of American Railroads is boasting an 85.5 percent improvement in fuel efficiency for their trains since 1980.
“In fact, if just 10 percent of the freight currently moving by truck went instead by rail, the nation could save one billion gallons of fuel per year."
This information probably sounds like an advertisement for the railroad industry. I did use the Association of American Railroads website as a source.
Sound great! But what about moving the freight from the railroad station to their final destination? We will still need an intermediate to get the final product to the stores. Is the trucking company doing anything to try and economize their trucks?
Whenever they can, they piggyback onto a train (or cargo ship) but as you say they need to move the container onto wheels pulled by a trucker for the final leg of the journey.
Hmm, maybe I should open my new grocery store right next to the train station...yes, yes.
what a helpful person bryan kennedy is you rock
Obviously, technology has something to do for today's trains being more efficient. Those who think otherwise must have been hiding in their caves for ages.
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