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[quote user="greyhounds"][quote user="futuremodal"] So tell us, how is aggregation for TOFC different from aggregation for bi-modal?  Are you forgetting that bi-modal operations generally cycle 3 vans per bogie?  Greyhounds doesn't understand the whole "cycle" thing. [/quote] TOFC aggregation is much more efficient than bimodal (RoadRailer) aggregation.  Remember, the whole idea is to put together a train of economic size as quickly as possible and move it.  TOFC can aggregate with anything.  Containers, motor carrier trailers, box cars, etc. Trying to run bimodal only trains doesn't allow this.  Think of all the equipment you can't use in such an aggregation.  No containers.  No motor carrier trailers.  No rail trailers (if there are any left).  You end up holding loads waiting for more bi-modal vehicles to show up.  This reduces equipment utilization, takes up terminal space and gives poor service to the customer. And not only are you limited by equipment - your're limited by destination.  You can mix TOFC blocks to anywhere to create a train.  They can be set out/picked up enroute and recombined with other traffic in another train.  Can't do that with bi-modal only. It's important to remember that BNSF didn't withdraw from the market served by its RoadRailers.  I continuted the service but it aggregated the equipment with other intermodal shipments by putting it on flatcars. It is more efficent that way. As to your wierd comment about "cycle times".  What is your point?  The ratio of vehicles to boggies is of no relavance to this discussion.  It will vary by the design and length of the operation.  That 3:1 ratio means absolutely nothing. [/quote] Actually, you can mix bi-modal with conventional equipment.  The only difference is that the bi-modal sets have to run at the end of a conventional consist.  The FRA hasn't approved any for being places at the head end or amid a conventional consist.  Depending on the number of intermediate bodies you use, you can make up a bi-modal consist with two, three, or more different blocks, set them out where you like, etc. And bi-modal is not limited to dry vans and reefers.  RailRunner offers bi-modal chassis and can do bi-modal flatbeds if need be.  Any truck trailer type can be built to bi-modal specs. Let me educate you on something.  The reason a railroad such as BNSF would choose to forgo bi-modal operations in favor of conventional TOFC and COFC is simple:  BNSF can bundle together more fees for TOFC and COFC than they can for bi-modal.  Gotta pay for those top lifts (plus a percentage), gotta pay for that TOFC crane (plus a percentage), gotta pay for that expensive new intermodal yard (plus a percentage), gotta depreciate those TTX flats we own (plus a percentage), etc., etc., etc.  RoadRailers and RailRunners do away with top lifts, TOFC cranes, fancy new intermodal terminals, and conventional railroad-owned equipment.  That's the erstwhile advantage of bi-modal.  Usually, a business has to have a niche all to them selves (e.g. monopoly power) to be able to force such additional fees onto the consumer.  Some utilities are (or were) able to bundle such extras onto the monthly bill.  Hey now, a little extra gravy ain't gonna hurt nobody, right?
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