Cargo on the roads?

Twisted_Ace

Quite simple - we have a relatively efficient road network. We have a grossly inefficient rail network.
The government's own research has shown it would cost several billion (yes, billion) pounds to build an efficient rail network in the U.K.
In order to recoup this vast cost to transport your goods by rail, the price of EVERYTHING you buy would have to go up by 300%.
Could you afford that? No, and neither could I...

telboy everton forever

come on think about it if you put cargo on the rails you would have a lot more congestion in the cities with a lot more smaller vans to deliver the goods to shops and factories

Barkin Chickens

Now I know what all my tax dollars are being wasted on...the dumbing down of America. LOL

Do you not understand the "freight" business at all? Think about it now. Fresh produce, will quickly become "wilted" produce.

Todays manufactoring demands "JIT" freight. J-just I-in T-time. Companies can no longer afford to build multi-million sq foot warehouses to stockpile inventory. The consumer demands lower cost, so they only order what they need at the moment.

Much of the freight that travels by rail, is held in transit for 2-3 weeks. Imagine that hamburger you had last week, on 4 week old buns, OH! and 6 week old pickles.

And these roads (interstates) you are refering to. Where originally built to move massive amounts of military equipment quickly...not your car!

The average truck, pays over $3000 in highway use taxes annually. Insuring you have nice roads to travel on. YOU sure aren't willing to pay that much or more to insure the road quality...are you.

trashy

no train tracks at walmarts ... hello? you listening?

SINBAD

I am in total agreement with you, the roads are far to busy now and expectations on the drivers are over the top.

NYC Chutzpah

great idea, not only cargo on the rails but more mass transit, I'd rather read a book than drive.

Porterhouse

Freight for the most part IS transported whenever possible and practical by rail. Since we can't feasibly deliver these commodities to their final sales point by rail in many cases, that's where trucks come into play. For example.... most of the Orange Juice produced at Tropicana in Bradenton, FL IS in fact shipped via rail out of the state in refrigerated rail cars.... some leaves via refrigerated truck. Construction materials, LP Propane gas, other fuels, coal, bulk furniture are shipped by rail.... snowmobiles, ATV's. If you can think of something, then it has probably been on a train before it gets onto a truck and into the marketplace.

I think that there should be subsidies for commuter rail and long distance high speed rail... the niche in the freight market has been filled and in many cases has a hard time keeping up with demand.

Trevor h

Me!
Think of the reduction in traffic congestion.
Whatever happened to RailFreight?

PAUL F

The trouble is that there is no capacity on the railways to take much more. Priority is given to passenger traffic. We closed down good rail routes and seem to refuse to reopen or improve routes. Politics!!!

foxy

why not widen our rivers to take large barges,make our truckers into captains and take our stuff by river like in Germany and other places.a trucker may take one tenth of a barge load in a day and a barge takes ten days so no loss of jobs,no or few accidents and less fuel used.....ozone recovers,i become famous for the guy that saved the world and you can all serve me as your king ....thank you ...thank you......I THANK YOU

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