Reply #18: I am looking up statistics

[hfojvt]

For 1999 railroads moved 1,499 billion ton-miles of freight. ICC trucks (inter-city) moved 499 billion ton-miles of freight and local trucks moved 594 billion. Trucking has been growing faster since 1980 - in 1980 the numbers were 932 (trains) 242 (ICC trucks) and 313 (local trucks)

Just by dollar cost railroads are much cheaper. Total spending on railroads in 1980 was 30.1 billion compared to 162.3 for ICC trucks and 108.4 for local trucks (and trains were moving 3 times as much freight-distance). In 1999 it was 35.9 to 304.6 and 152.1.

All of that is dwarfed by what America spends on Passenger transportation. In 1980 it was 507.3 billion on privated autos for 1,468 billion passenger miles, compared to 1.8 billion and 27 billion for busses and 4.6 billion and 11 billion for rail. In 1999 it was 787.4 billion for autos 5.6 billion for trains 1.8 billion for busses for passenger miles of 1,850; 35; and 14. Figures for bus do not include urban busses which cost 21.7 billion and school busses which cost 10.3. And not to mention 41,700 automobile deaths and 3,236,000 automobiles injuries in 1999. Railroads accidents cost 530 lives - less than the 734 of recreational boating.