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5
RWSGFY
2025 Aug 11, 5:03pm
RWSGFY
2025 Aug 11, 5:03pm
What's stopping you from using the rails? It's not like they are being actively guarded...
7
RWSGFY
2025 Aug 11, 5:17pm
RWSGFY
2025 Aug 11, 5:17pm
Patrick says
What "onramps"? Enter at a crossing if your vehicle is low-riding sedan or anywhere if it's a lifted SUV.
Maybe onramps are the problem.
What "onramps"? Enter at a crossing if your vehicle is low-riding sedan or anywhere if it's a lifted SUV.
9
WookieMan
2025 Aug 11, 7:24pm
WookieMan
2025 Aug 11, 7:24pm
RWSGFY says
On grade crossings are the issue. Surface roads could be shut down for 10 hours a day. Emergency response could be an issue. You'd have to add stop lights on the rail line which is probably $100k a crossing no problem and then the wait time would negate any potential time savings.
I have 5 crossings in a town of 2,200 people. Tiny. It would cost probably $20M just for my small town. Asphalt is cheap relatively speaking. Just use the roads. BNSF if currently in the process of replacing ties and rail in my town. Given labor costs it's probably around that $20M amount for about 8 miles.
Patrick says
Maybe onramps are the problem.
What "onramps"? Enter at a crossing if your vehicle is low-riding sedan or anywhere if it's a lifted SUV.
On grade crossings are the issue. Surface roads could be shut down for 10 hours a day. Emergency response could be an issue. You'd have to add stop lights on the rail line which is probably $100k a crossing no problem and then the wait time would negate any potential time savings.
I have 5 crossings in a town of 2,200 people. Tiny. It would cost probably $20M just for my small town. Asphalt is cheap relatively speaking. Just use the roads. BNSF if currently in the process of replacing ties and rail in my town. Given labor costs it's probably around that $20M amount for about 8 miles.
10
RWSGFY
2025 Aug 11, 8:11pm
RWSGFY
2025 Aug 11, 8:11pm
WookieMan says
Oh, so somebody would need to improve and maintain the fucking thing and itʼs not just "arrive and drive"? I'm shocked, SHOCKED!
RWSGFY says
Patrick says
Maybe onramps are the problem.
What "onramps"? Enter at a crossing if your vehicle is low-riding sedan or anywhere if it's a lifted SUV.
On grade crossings are the issue. Surface roads could be shut down for 10 hours a day. Emergency response could be an issue. You'd have to add stop lights on the rail line which is probably $100k a crossing no problem and then the wait time would negate any potential time savings.
I have 5 crossings in a town of 2,200 people. Tiny. It would cost probably $20M just for my small town. Asphalt is cheap relatively speaking. Just use the roads. BNSF if currently in the process of replacing ties and rail in my town. Given labor costs it's probably around that $20M amount for about 8 miles.
Oh, so somebody would need to improve and maintain the fucking thing and itʼs not just "arrive and drive"? I'm shocked, SHOCKED!
Later I read that there are a vast number of unused rail lines in the US which are still in pretty good condition. They should be opened up to private car trafffic.
Maybe even the main rail lines should allow cars on them. Another advantage: driving could be completely automated and skip all traffic.