How Does The Railroad Affect The Economy

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The North American freight railroad business is chugging along very nicely, reports the Wall Street Journal, and railroad companies are engaged in a building boom surpassing anything seen since the industry’s 19th century golden age. Major rail lines are spending $14 billion this year on rail yards, refueling stations, additional track and upgrades to old track — more than double what they spent a decade ago. What’s going on? Does this reflect a booming economy? Not really, although the shale/oil gas revolution clearly is helping. What’s happening is that America’s freight railroads are gaining market share. Rail companies have become far more efficient than in the days when they struggled under the dead hand of federal government regulation. U.S. freight rail rates are nearly half of what they were three decades ago. On-time performance has improved dramatically — almost to the point where delivery by train is almost as reliable as by truck. Rising fuel prices are a help, too. Freight rail more energy efficient than trucks over long distances — trains can move one ton of freight about 500 miles on a gallon of fuel, making them three to four times as energy efficient as trucks. The U.S. freight rail system is even becoming a source of national…show more content…
Thus, the state can spend $244 million on a project like the Charlottesville Bypass without the faintest clue as to its economic return on investment. (By my calculations, which no one has disputed, the Bypass likely will generate an ROI less than the state’s tax-subsidized cost of capital, which represents a net destruction of wealth.) Rail companies, by contrast, have rigorous investment guidelines. Typically, large private corporations won’t invest in a project unless it provides a ROI of 15% to 20% — or even higher, if the projects are
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