This post will be North America centric, as that is where I live and am most knowledgeable of.
As much I love railroads and love working for them I think the whole sector needs a big wake up call. This applies both to freight and passenger. Some might retort that while American passenger rail is unhealthy, at least freight rail is healthy. However even freight rail is unhealthy. Freight rail has been shedding customers for decades and even since deregulation happened thousands of miles of track have been abandoned. Freight rail has been losing market share to trucking. Freight rail is serving an increasingly niche market. Despite the increase in the need for cargo transporation, freight rail is not gaining from it. Coal as energy source is in decline long term. I remember reading somewhere that coal accounted for 40% of freight rail shipments; if anyone knows the exact number please post. Coal faces a bleek future due to increasingly poor economics and evironmental policies. Trucking will become more economical over time due to electrification and possibly automation, though I remain skeptical of the feasibility of any road vehicles being automated.
Passenger rail, commuter rail and transit has its own unique and distinct sets of problems, but problems none the less. Many transit projects in the US are built in places that don't have the ridership or population densities to justify them; this is why we often see empty buses and trains. The capital costs of many rail tranist projects in the US are absolutely enormous compared to other parts of the world. For an extreme example we can look to the 2nd avenue subway in New York with a cost of 1.5 - 3 billion dollars mile. Building a subway anywhere else in the world would cost 100 - 500 million dollars mile. Transit ridership has been downhill for decades despite massive increases in infrastructure spending for both bus and rail projects. Coivd 19 has further harmed Transit ridership and most places have not recovered and car use actually INCREASED both numerically and proportionally as a percent of passenger miles. Covid 19 also has increased remote work which has lead to greater urban sprawl. The cost of living in Urban areas where transit is most viable is skyrocketing leading people to leave these cities and either work from home or commute greater distances, thus leading to more sprawl and less viable transit. There's also the problem of homelessness which makes public transportation less enjoyable to use. Even in places where public transit is used widely such as San Francisco, Atlanta, Chicago, New York, New Jersey etc. ridership is on the decline and the quality of service is also the decline. Transit agencies themselves suffer from a combination of ineptitude and/or corruption depending the context, especially legacy ones. Eventually the public will get fed up with spending massive amounts of money for infrastructure, giving money to corrupt government agencies or spending money of services people barely use. I can say from experience as as transit agency employee there is numerous inefficies in how both buses and trains are operated. Passenger rail is one of the most expensive ways to travel with prices in the US and Europe ranging from 20 - 40 cents per passenger mile compared to 15 - 20 per passenger mile with airplanes. Even over short distances airlines are usually more economical. Electric cars are on the rise and will eventually be economical for common people. Transit users are disproportionately low income and if cars become more affordable due to electric cars, than transit will lose a significant portion of its userbase as low income riders shift to electric cars.
Sorry for the length. I must stress that I am not anti-rail, but I just see numerous problems with the sector and it seems to me that the status quo is not sustainable. In the US railroad mileage peaked in 1914 and streetcar ridership peaked in the 1920s. I believe rail will play increasingly marginal role in the movement of both people and goods in the US; though will play a greater role in East Asia, Former Soviet Union and India.
Railroad to Freedom
The wake up needs to go th ALL BUSINESSES in the Western World.
At one time the object of business was to provide goods and/or services and return a reasonable profit for those engaged in the business.
Today it seems the object of business is to provide as little goods and/or services at a extreme price point designed extract every last cent from the customers both individual's and business's so the 'shareholders' can afford their private planes to their owned vacation islands as well as sailing the super yachts.
The super rich have detached themselves from the rest of the worlds population.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
BaltACD The wake up needs to go th ALL BUSINESSES in the Western World. At one time the object of business was to provide goods and/or services and return a reasonable profit for those engaged in the business. Today it seems the object of business is to provide as little goods and/or services at a extreme price point designed extract every last cent from the customers both individual's and business's so the 'shareholders' can afford their private planes to their owned vacation islands as well as sailing the super yachts. The super rich have detached themselves from the rest of the worlds population.
The last two years has resulted in the slaughter of many small free enterprise businesses and further consolidation of "market power" by what is being called the China class. I don't have any say in how freight can be shipped. As much as possible I just try to buy what I need from local independent businesses where I live and hope others will do the same.
Very true! The OP might be a little off on some points but generally is on target as are you, BALT. Although China is our primary competitor, it it US corporate world that eased the road for their products as an opiate to a middle class that got squeezed out of its share of income and wealth since 1981 by the 1%.
GrampAs much as possible I just try to buy what I need from local independent businesses where I live and hope others will do the same.
Local "upscale" independent pet store next our yard.
I laugh when I see the owner tossing Chewy.com boxes in the dumpster.
Not uncommon.
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
charlie hebdo BaltACD The wake up needs to go th ALL BUSINESSES in the Western World. At one time the object of business was to provide goods and/or services and return a reasonable profit for those engaged in the business. Today it seems the object of business is to provide as little goods and/or services at a extreme price point designed extract every last cent from the customers both individual's and business's so the 'shareholders' can afford their private planes to their owned vacation islands as well as sailing the super yachts. The super rich have detached themselves from the rest of the worlds population. Very true! The OP might be a little off on some points but generally is on target as are you, BALT. Although China is our primary competitor, it it US corporate world that eased the road for their products as an opiate to a middle class that got squeezed out of its share of income and wealth since 1981 by the 1%.
Charlie, you don't get who the China class is.
BaltACDToday it seems the object of business is to provide as little goods and/or services at a extreme price point designed extract every last cent from the customers both individual's and business's so the 'shareholders' can afford their private planes to their owned vacation islands as well as sailing the super yachts.
Maximum return to those who do not lift a single finger to produce the end product.
At least back in the old robber baron days, equity provided entrepreneurship. Now they just farm that out to hired guns. Just an additional layer of cost that must be recovered.
charlie hebdo... Very true! The OP might be a little off on some points but generally is on target as are you, BALT. Although China is our primary competitor, it it US corporate world that eased the road for their products as an opiate to a middle class that got squeezed out of its share of income and wealth since 1981 by the 1%.
China has become our competitor mainly because of our complicity. Send the jobs to China to make the product cheaper than is possible at home - that worked when Chinese labor was only compensated marginly above the rates for slavery. Now Chinese expect to get compensated at the near US rate for their labors and it is sending shock waves all over the world as well as in China.
BaltACD charlie hebdo ... Very true! The OP might be a little off on some points but generally is on target as are you, BALT. Although China is our primary competitor, it it US corporate world that eased the road for their products as an opiate to a middle class that got squeezed out of its share of income and wealth since 1981 by the 1%. China has become our competitor mainly because of our complicity. Send the jobs to China to make the product cheaper than is possible at home - that worked when Chinese labor was only compensated marginly above the rates for slavery. Now Chinese expect to get compensated at the near US rate for their labors and it is sending shock waves all over the world as well as in China.
charlie hebdo ... Very true! The OP might be a little off on some points but generally is on target as are you, BALT. Although China is our primary competitor, it it US corporate world that eased the road for their products as an opiate to a middle class that got squeezed out of its share of income and wealth since 1981 by the 1%.
Companies will just further outsource the manufacting to even cheaper destinations like Vietnam, Banglandesh and India.
Maybe the railroad industry really does have no future in the face of autonomous truck competition on subsidized highways. But even if that were true I wouldn't expect current management to recognize that until it's too late.
Also, for those of us who don't watch Fox and Newsmax 24/7, who exactly are the "China class"?
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
GrampCharlie, you don't get who the China class is.
So what is that in one of those right wing conspiracy nut theories?
The problem with conspiracy theories lately is that they're turning out to be true (FB meme).
Did a search on the China Class. I'd post the link, but that would be too political, so you'll have to settle for this snippet: " ...cultural elite’s economic lifeline to the Chinese Communist Party."
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
I still thnk we need a new Teddy Roosevelt like leader to be a "TRUST buster" Back a 115 years ago, the "Robber Barons" were controling the RRs, the Oil, and the Steel industries. Teddy started the government oversight and started some regulation such as the ICC (which has had much written about its excesses) and then Franklin D. Roosevelt, after the failures of the Banking system, created evem more regulation with the FCC, SEC, and all the other alphabet soup. Big government to counter BIG business. Today, we are down to 7 class 1's, and many industries have consolidated to be two to four major competators in each industry and they don't compete, they conspire to keep out competition. We used to have one regulated phone monopoly and then they would not allow competition for long distance calls. Judge Green changed that and competion gave us the Cell Phone expansion we now have. Any one remember Word Perfect, and other software. Microsoft dominates in the software with many little startups trying to promote new apps. Google dominates search engines. Etc. Our financial industry promotes comsolidation of industies and I think we need something to limit the dominence.
Electroliner 1935I still thnk we need a new Teddy Roosevelt like leader to be a "TRUST buster" Back a 115 years ago, the "Robber Barons" were controling the RRs, the Oil, and the Steel industries. Teddy started the government oversight and started some regulation such as the ICC (which has had much written about its excesses) and then Franklin D. Roosevelt, after the failures of the Banking system, created evem more regulation with the FCC, SEC, and all the other alphabet soup. Big government to counter BIG business. Today, we are down to 7 class 1's, and many industries have consolidated to be two to four major competators in each industry and they don't compete, they conspire to keep out competition. We used to have one regulated phone monopoly and then they would not allow competition for long distance calls. Judge Green changed that and competion gave us the Cell Phone expansion we now have. Any one remember Word Perfect, and other software. Microsoft dominates in the software with many little startups trying to promote new apps. Google dominates search engines. Etc. Our financial industry promotes comsolidation of industies and I think we need something to limit the dominence.
Remember - Teddy Roosevelt only became President because McKinley was assassanated. He had been selected as VP since the party leaders never expected or wanted TR to get the top spot.
Electroliner 1935 I still thnk we need a new Teddy Roosevelt like leader to be a "TRUST buster" Back a 115 years ago, the "Robber Barons" were controling the RRs, the Oil, and the Steel industries. Teddy started the government oversight and started some regulation such as the ICC (which has had much written about its excesses) and then Franklin D. Roosevelt, after the failures of the Banking system, created evem more regulation with the FCC, SEC, and all the other alphabet soup. Big government to counter BIG business. Today, we are down to 7 class 1's, and many industries have consolidated to be two to four major competators in each industry and they don't compete, they conspire to keep out competition. We used to have one regulated phone monopoly and then they would not allow competition for long distance calls. Judge Green changed that and competion gave us the Cell Phone expansion we now have. Any one remember Word Perfect, and other software. Microsoft dominates in the software with many little startups trying to promote new apps. Google dominates search engines. Etc. Our financial industry promotes comsolidation of industies and I think we need something to limit the dominence.
As I've been saying for years: The pendulum swings.
Eveything you mentioned is true. The cycle seems to be close to 100 years.
I would add unions to that list. Workers were treated like slaves until they organized and demanded better wages and working conditions, but union demands gradually became absurd, and many young people have turned against them.
These days we see people rant for and against government, unions, unfettered capitalism, "conservative politics"*, "liberal politics"* as if one is evil and the other is heaven on earth. It's the age of absolutism.
I always think back to what Eisenhower said at the end of his terms as president:
"Middle-of-the-road government is not popular government, but it's good government."
__________
* I put these terms in quotes because what is meant by them today has nothing to do with their definitions.
_____________
"A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner
People talk about the "1%" in the world as thought they are all alike. There isn't enough evidence to confirm that. However, there is some evidence that the activists [not all of them are] in the top .01% or .02% in the Western world are very alike in their views and beliefs. The theory is this is because the very super-rich no longer associate with much other than similar thinking super-rich.
It is the activist super-rich that drive the world today since they have the money to really effect governments and polticians on a national and international level. So far they have shown the power in the US to prevent any attempt to break up monopolies no matter which political party is in power.
BaltACDRemember - Teddy Roosevelt only became President because McKinley was assassanated. He had been selected as VP since the party leaders never expected or wanted TR to get the top spot.
You omit to tell "the rest of the story" here. TR won reelection by a large margin in popular vote in 1904 with 56.4%. His actions were very popular with the people. Unfortunately he deferred to his VP Taft in 1908, who was not a Progressive. TR ran in 1912 coming in 2nd in a three man race, splitting the GOP vote so that Wilson won.
Balt is right in that we did this to ourselves. We went $37 million or more down on balance-of-trade willingly, to the accompaniment of a giant sucking sound in a thousand or more small communities -- as the disappearing middle class gleefully conspired with a bargain here, a few saved dollars there... I did not think we would see Lenin stood on his head about the capitalists selling the rope; the 'market-based' customers bought it instead.
I dislike discussing a "China class" for the same reasons I dislike people trying to 'blame China' for the current pandemic: in fact, in general I don't like demonizing race as an excuse for other factors. We were today treated to the spectacle of the Geisel trust deciding not to do any more publication of 6 Dr. Seuss books that have been deemed to show Asians in a bad light... forgetting both that Geisel was a propaganda artist and lived through the horror of WWII and the threat, as late as May 1945, of a million Americans dead to finish it. Unsurprisingly there were stereotypes that carried over, albeit you have to look for them...better still, not to express them.
Have the Chinese schmoozed certain embers of the American 'elites' [I had typed 'members' and this isn't a Freudian slip, but it's pretty funny] over the years? Certainly! But this is no different from any other culture trying to influence us; Stalin's Russia bought the fruit of the entire Manhattan project, in detail, for a few tens of thousands of dollars -- Judge Kaufman was my father's patient and I had the chance to talk to him exhaustively about a year before HE died [thanks guys - I just type like the walking dead sometimes]: what the Rosenbergs and Greenglass did, in his view even at that late date, was an act of treason and a threat to America far beyond what anyone (even some Roosevelt staffers sending our 'wartime ally' every industrial patent registered in the United States) had committed, and arguably has committed since. That was for money. The price has gone up, and some ambitious people have ridden the train -- but who am I to cry foul? Plenty of other nationalities have done it, and while we should blame them, there is little point in demonizing their ideologies instead of observing the problems and plugging them at the polls (which, in time, won't be manipulated; there are plenty of times they have been, and it's always resolved in the end)
Now, if China intends to compete in the United States transportation market, their 800-pound gorilla is in rail technologies -- particularly the equipment, methods, and training of new track construction we see demonstrated in some of the Belt and Road initiatives -- applicable both to freight and passenger.
The thing that made TR so popular in memory is that he used Progressivism for public good, or at least seemed to: his great mistake was in following a point of principle to step down in 1908 because he said so... and had only that wretched tub of a Taft to replace him. Now the idea of one individual or group actually running the country's machinery for everyone's benefit is dismissed... by people with a vested stake one way or the other in keeping things lousy. If we let the "elites" or "activists" or "super rich" or whoever define the 'narrative', of influence perception of the issues, or ruin public education... we let it happen to ourselves.
charlie hebdo BaltACD Remember - Teddy Roosevelt only became President because McKinley was assassanated. He had been selected as VP since the party leaders never expected or wanted TR to get the top spot. You omit to tell "the rest of the story" here. TR won reelection by a large margin in popular vote in 1904 with 56.4%. His actions were very popular with the people. Unfortunately he deferred to his VP Taft in 1908, who was not a Progressive. TR ran in 1912 coming in 2nd in a three man race, splitting the GOP vote so that Wilson won.
BaltACD Remember - Teddy Roosevelt only became President because McKinley was assassanated. He had been selected as VP since the party leaders never expected or wanted TR to get the top spot.
Had McKinley not been killed we, most likely, would not have heard anything further about TR and his progressiveness, as he would not have been in position to implement any of his ideas. One has to be in a position to do the job, if the job is to get done. If TR had not implemented his ideas following McKinley's death he would not have been in the position to be elected in his own term.
BaltACD charlie hebdo BaltACD Remember - Teddy Roosevelt only became President because McKinley was assassanated. He had been selected as VP since the party leaders never expected or wanted TR to get the top spot. You omit to tell "the rest of the story" here. TR won reelection by a large margin in popular vote in 1904 with 56.4%. His actions were very popular with the people. Unfortunately he deferred to his VP Taft in 1908, who was not a Progressive. TR ran in 1912 coming in 2nd in a three man race, splitting the GOP vote so that Wilson won. Had McKinley not been killed we, most likely, would not have heard anything further about TR and his progressiveness, as he would not have been in position to implement any of his ideas. One has to be in a position to do the job, if the job is to get done. If TR had not implemented his ideas following McKinley's death he would not have been in the position to be elected in his own term.
Obviously. But that's fate. And he was elected by a big margin, near landslide. What's your point?
BaltACDHad McKinley not been killed we, most likely, would not have heard anything further about TR and his progressiveness, as he would not have been in position to implement any of his ideas.
On the other hand, we might also have been spared Harding and all that he implied; were it not for some cold-soldered joints we might have had the real Kennedy in the White House, and I shiver to think of the election in 1936 had Huey Long not conveniently passed on...
Overmod...and I had the chance to talk to him exhaustively about a year before I died
Is there something about you that you haven't told us about?
Overmod. Did you mean ...before HE died?
Electroliner 1935Overmod. Did you mean ...before HE died?
In the late '80s I thought it was surprising that he still felt so strongly about it.
I'm still unsure that the death penalty for treason is justified in a modern context. Not really a deterrent to the type of folks most likely to compromise 'national security' in the most devastating ways. I don't think the record is fully in about whether the Rosenbergs thought it would level an unfair playing field for Stalin's Russia to have atomic weapons; I think it's fairly clear that Greenglass's motivation was primarily financial. Certainly the three of them contributed greatly to an unfortunate situation at an unfortunate time for United States policy in general.
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