by carajul
I'd like to know how much TOFC traffic accounts for total rr traffic these days? I am assuming TOFC is what is leading to the abandonment of branch lines and factory spurs.
Railroad Forums
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carajul wrote:I'd like to know how much TOFC traffic accounts for total rr traffic these days? I am assuming TOFC is what is leading to the abandonment of branch lines and factory spurs.Unfortunately what's led to abandonment of factory spurs and associated branchlines is that the manufacturing is no longer done here. Most of that work has been offshored to Asia and China over the last several decades, which eliminated the factories and their need for rail service. Once traffic levels fall to a certain level, it is no longer economically feasible to run and maintain those lines and they dry up. All of those trailers you see today are distributing those goods that are made elsewhere, much of it being loads that originate in the west coast ports and are rail shipped to the east. In addition, it's not just finished goods that have been affected. The US steel industry has also been decimated by (cheaper) foreign competition. I guess we should at least be happy that a good portion of this traffic still travels by rail, at least for a significant part of its' journey.
Jtgshu wrote: TOFC, or COFC Trains coming down the Chemical Coast, from either Eport or from Howland Hook, to Wood on the Coast Line, over to Essay, and out the Amboy Sec (to service all those warehouses out in Cranbury), to Midway, out on to Amtrak, west to Morrisville or whereever.....There is actually a proposal that mentions 'short haul' COFC from the port & howland hook possibly connecting to the 8A area along w/ barge operations up the hudson, all designed to improve the congestion around the port. It exists on paper and in the politician's dreams. Question is will w ever see it in reality?
wis bang wrote:That's an interesting thought, wis bang.Jtgshu wrote: TOFC, or COFC Trains coming down the Chemical Coast, from either Eport or from Howland Hook, to Wood on the Coast Line, over to Essay, and out the Amboy Sec (to service all those warehouses out in Cranbury), to Midway, out on to Amtrak, west to Morrisville or whereever.....There is actually a proposal that mentions 'short haul' COFC from the port & howland hook possibly connecting to the 8A area along w/ barge operations up the hudson, all designed to improve the congestion around the port. It exists on paper and in the politician's dreams. Question is will w ever see it in reality?
carajul wrote:Actually a buddy of mine was recently out west and spend time along the BNSF mainline that goes through Arizona, New Mexico, etc. He said it was non-stop train after train after train doing 80MPH and, yes, 100% of it was TOFC and COFC. He noted quite a bit of UPS, JB Hunt, Roadway, and blank containers.
I'm wondering why FedEx doesn't switch to trains. All their ground frieght goes in those 2 and 3 connected together truck trailers.
Ken W2KB wrote:>>>I'm wondering why FedEx doesn't switch to trains. All their ground frieght goes in those 2 and 3 connected together truck trailers.<<<Actually NS now runs a train of mainly FEdEx trailers.....It comes out of Chicago and heads into NJ as symbol 24W.....
Probably because FedEx hubs are at airports without rail access.
Jtgshu wrote:That article mentioned something like "rail lines will increase from 8 to 18" or something like that - what did they mean by that, and what are the "new lines"???I think they mean new track coming out of the port at different points and connecting with the Chemical Coast or other nearby rail lines.
Anyone have any idea???
njt4172 wrote:Ken W2KB wrote:>>>I'm wondering why FedEx doesn't switch to trains. All their ground frieght goes in those 2 and 3 connected together truck trailers.<<<Actually NS now runs a train of mainly FEdEx trailers.....It comes out of Chicago and heads into NJ as symbol 24W.....
Probably because FedEx hubs are at airports without rail access.
Steve