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I see the railroad industry going through a period of convulsions and upheaval that will have profound ramifications. Deferred maintenance will now have the same catastrophic consequences for some Class Ones that it had 30 years ago for the six railroads that made up Conrail. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the number of derailments is increasing on some lines which coincides with lack of emphasis on infrastructure maintenance. This is a slippery slope that makes it extremely difficult for a major carrier to rebound from. Increased costs due to mounting number of derailments absorbs funds that could be used for track and structure rehabilitation. Truly, a vicious cycle. Wreck of the Penn Central red'ux. Our elected representatives, occupied by matters of national security, cannot see the coming melt down, but what North America needs is a balanced ground transportation policy that recognizes the importance of a healthy rail network. As a matter of national security and continued operation of the integrated rail system the Federal government may eventually be forced to at least take over responsibility for the maintenance of the major rights of way throughout the continent. The storm clouds are building, and "it doesn't take a weatherman to tell which way the wind blows".
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