A lot of the damage has been done, and is unlikely to be undone. I'd like to find Doc's DeLorean, and go back and fix it... But, we can't. Restore the Modoc, or undo these mega mergers? It;s a very unlikely outcome.

But, breaking the monopolistic situations this has created and we are encountering today could be done by effective regulation. By using tough regulation we could allow and/or force these oligopolies to open up routes and/or grant operating rights, to allow access to captive customers like those single carrier "ports" or other potential RR captive customers, by competing carriers, able to offer service that the mega roads don't, or won't, offer.

Will it happen...? I don't know.

Today, we increasingly seem to have evolved into a "virtual" "kleptocracy" where we have the best "gubmint" that unlimited amount of campaign money and lobbyist's can buy, regardless of the "brand" of "gubmint" which they "call" themselves or "claim" to represent... So while I'd like to be more "optimistic", it's much safer to be realistic... Which makes me pretty pessimistic...