I once told a European railroad official that in the U.S., railroads have to pay property taxes on their lines -- which is an incentive to abandon low-use lines, so that they no longer have to pay those taxes.

That official said he thought that was the stupidest thing he had ever heard -- or something along those lines. (The conversation took place in German.)

Yes, I know that European railroads have abandoned low traffic lines, too. But, at least it was not for tax reasons.

-- Ernest