it is still the cheapest way.

Pound for pound it is still the cheapest way to ship freight. Imagine the number of trucks or planes required to haul the same amount of freight as say a 150 car train, some of which or double stacked. The trains aren't as flexible with routes but moving large quantities over great distances, nothing beats the trains.

The infrastructure is still there, eliminating the cost of new equipment. And there are some things that are either cost-prohibitive or just plain impossible to move any other way, like construction vehicles, large quantities of ore....

We use them here in Tampa to ship new cars around town to all the dealers and other things...I'm sure it is much cheaper to run one train with all those cars, then it would be to run more than a dozen trucks to ship the cars.

Why do we still use trains? I am gonna throw some numbers down hear so get ready to take notes: "North American railroads operate over 173,000 miles of track, and earn $42 billion in annual revenues. Railroads remain the backbone of North America's freight transportation network. Seventy percent of all automobiles produced in the U.S. move by train. So does 30 percent of the nation's grain harvest and 65 percent of the coal which, in turn, provides more than half of the nation's electricity. Railroads move enough wheat to provide every man, woman and child a fresh loaf of bread six days a week... enough lumber to build almost three houses every minute of every day... and enough concrete to build 45 miles of new highway every day. U.S. freight railroads are the world's busiest, moving more freight than any rail system in any other country. In fact, U.S. railroads move more than four times as much freight as do all of Western Europe's freight railroads combined. Improvements in freight productivity help the United States maintain its competitive position in the world economy. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that productivity for the intercity trucking, railroad, air transport, and petroleum pipeline industries has improved over the last 20 years. The railroad industry has posted the most impressive gains, followed by the pipeline industry".

Freight is cheaper to ship via train than by truck. It is also better for the environment. Labor costs are lower per ton mile (the cost to move one ton of goods for one mile).

we use trains to transport freight because they are subsidised by the federal government. railroads have been loosing money for years until the federal gov't bailed them out.now they dont really care if profit is made.if the railrods had to compete w/trucking on an equal playing field the rr's would be out of business .

Not only is it worth it, it keeps me employed, as well.

Yes, we do but not nearly as much as we should and if you consider that every car is worth one truck off the road, they're worth their weight in green gold

100 carriages pulled by one train vs 100 semi-trailers pulled by 100 prime movers. Does that make it clearer?

Because trains are still the most efficient way to ship large quantities of goods and materials for very long distances especially bulk materials such as coal and grain.

Because trains don't have to deal with rush hour.