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Why do railroads run intermodal so fast?

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[quote]QUOTE: Originally posted by gabe [quote]QUOTE: Originally posted by StillGrande Because they are trying to keep service comparable to a truck going 75 on a highway to the same place. [/quote] OK, to restate my premise: Say a fast intermodal or truck's speed of 60 mph makes the 1000 mile transit in 17 hours. Whereas the train's speed of 45 mph makes the trip in 22 hours. Why on earth would the 5 hours amount to a drop in the bucket when compared to the WEEKS that is took to get the container on the train. So what if trucks or a fast train gets it there 5-7 hours faster? It is still a 5-7 hour difference on a container that would take at least a week to get from the factory in China to the train. At best, you are looking at a 32/33rds difference in time, and I think that is being very generous. [/quote] a). Because the ocean going liners don't have to compete with trucks? A "slow boat from china" is still a slow boat from china ...no matter who pilots it. Whereas once the containers hit terra firma the green flag falls b). Volume: if you are a merchant expecting 20 containers full of merchandise, you probably have very little control on selecting one overseas container company over the other, IN THE CONTEXT OF SPEED, and as such a small customer you are not going to be able to command priority routing from the ship. However, once the containers are on land, you can barter with the devil all you want as far as who is willing to promise you what, with those contending forced to butt heads on details. and. c). timing... Perhaps after HAVING to wait for that slow boat from china to make it's 30 day transit...the welled up anticipation of customers waiting for their goods makes that last 4 hour differential transit time all the more critical? If you've been forced to wait for your order for 30 days already, which is better to the impatient mentality? waiting 1 day longer or 2 days longer to take delivery. You put the pressure on the point you can actually control...
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