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Cost per Car load. Dollars.
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Eric, <br /> <br />You hit the nail on the head, and what will eventually happen is that new rail-dependent capital will locate (with some exceptions - see question on Idaho coal plant proposals) where they can get competitive rates. This is why the proprietary closed access system is much like the problems of Social Security, in that both are set up in a way that will eventually bankrupt the system some time in the future. The closed access rail system is an anachronism compared with the other transportation modes, which are all open access. Economic growth can only be fostered when customers have price and service choices via the most optimal modal systems. <br /> <br />As more and more rail dependent capital migrates to competitive rail locales, the railroads will need some form of subsidy to stay afloat under the current set up. The idea of giving taxpayer aid to entities that do not engender price choice for the customer will have a hard time getting support. As much as railroaders loathe the idea, the concept of separating out the infrastructure into an independent entity, supported by some form of tax incentive, and regulated to prevent price gouging and use discrimination, is the only way to rectify this situation for the long term, and to do so in a way that will win support of customers. <br /> <br />Equalization. That's what it's about. Equalize the government support systems among the transportation modes. Equalize the ability of consumers to have a choice of transporter service providers for each mode. To only do the former is to subsidize monopolistic tendencies. To only do the latter is to institute socialistic re-regulation.
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