The voice with the most money to promote their view seems to be the one that is accepted by the public. People are too busy trying to keep up with the Jones' to do the necessary research on the subject to realize the right answer. You have to admit that the world today has reached a level of complexity of immense proportions. The opinion that gets the most press will be the one taken as fact. Money does more than promote ideas, it suppresses the opposing position. Corn has gotten a HUGE subsidy with the promotion of ethanol. Rail has profited from the amount of traffic generated at both ends of the process.

Inroads are being made on alternative fuel sources. UPS and others are using CNG (compressed natural gas) to run their vehicles. Some are even using electric vehicles for deliveries, the Brits have been using electric milk trucks for some time now. BN and UP have both tried radical alternative energy locomotives in the past. Can you fire a steam locomotive with COKE?

I believe that the original post was correctly placed on this board. Whatever happens the railroad is STILL the best way to haul bulk quantities of ANYTHING. Even if we get an increase in nuclear power.....Rail will be used to haul the spent fuel.