JDM is correct when he refers to the Port of Stockton being ready to go with just this type of operation. The area in question is the old Rough & Ready Defience Supply Depot. There are numerous warehouses all ready to be used. The rails have been updated. There is a plan in place for Daggett Rd. to be upgraded as an access from Hiway 4. The contract for the necessary bridge may have already been let.
A few years ago, there was talks between the Port of Stockton and the Port of Oakland regarding this very same type of operation. The ideas included containers being transfered to barges in Oakland and then brought to Stockton. More recently there was a brief item on a similar working arrangement between the Port of Oakland with the Port of Sacramento.
There seems to be plenty of great ideas but very little action. Some time ago there was a series of posts from a retired top leval manager from S.P. He made the statement that for the railroads to be able to make their cost of handling, a container train would have to travel several hundred miles. To be sure all of the railroads care about their bottom line and do NOT care about congestion on any of the Hiways or Freeways.