by NellieBly
Participants in this forum frequently hold up European railroads as an example for Amtrak and for U.S. policymakers. They are -- for passenger traffic. For freight, the story is a bit different.
The following remarks were made by Ms. Loyola Palacio at the conclusion of a recent European rail conference:
"As you know, the overall traffic performance of EU rail freight in the last years has been unsatisfactory. The modal share of rail freight is in constant decline since 1970, when it still amounted to 20%. Since then, it has dropped to less than 8% in the beginning of this decade. This development calls for swift and forceful action in order to revitalise the rail freight sector and for the latter to play a more important role in the future European transport system."
The market share calculation is a percentage of total freight tonnage. In the U.S., railroads handle 42% -- and all that freight is what is delaying Amtrak.
Also, U.S. freight railroads make money.
Just a little perspective on those wonderful European (passenger) railroads and those wonderful European tractor-trailers.
The following remarks were made by Ms. Loyola Palacio at the conclusion of a recent European rail conference:
"As you know, the overall traffic performance of EU rail freight in the last years has been unsatisfactory. The modal share of rail freight is in constant decline since 1970, when it still amounted to 20%. Since then, it has dropped to less than 8% in the beginning of this decade. This development calls for swift and forceful action in order to revitalise the rail freight sector and for the latter to play a more important role in the future European transport system."
The market share calculation is a percentage of total freight tonnage. In the U.S., railroads handle 42% -- and all that freight is what is delaying Amtrak.
Also, U.S. freight railroads make money.
Just a little perspective on those wonderful European (passenger) railroads and those wonderful European tractor-trailers.