Mythbusters Wrote:
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> Alabama is copying Georgia and their successful
> rail intermodal from Savannah to Crandall,
> Fairburn and soon Gainesville, GA. All under 350
> miles. NS and AL in phase one will clear Mobile to
> Bessemer for doublestacks for a new port of Mobile
> to McCalla, AL service. McCalla intermodal yard
> will be expanded. NS is paying 50%, AL 5% and the
> rest from federal grants.
>
> 215 highway miles from Mobile to McCalla. NS would
> not pay a penny if it were not going to be
> profitable for them.
>
> [www.railwayage.com]
> ye-232mm-capacity-improvement-project/
>
> Georgia Inland Port at Gainesville is under
> construction with NS service to start in 2024. The
> CSX train from Crandall Appalachian Regional Port
> had 48 containers into Atlanta this morning.
> Normally 50-100. Rides on train I197 from Fairburn
> to Savannah.
>
> Intermodal isn't profitable under 500 miles is a
> myth.

The whole argument around PSR and common carrier obligation is not that hauling freight is not profitable. It is. It's that it's not profitable enough. Lay off the crews ,park the locomotives , close the yards, pull out the industry turnouts and provide the most basic and most profitable rail service.