"no cigar" is comparing apples and avocados. The 2002 railroad study assumed the work to restore the railroad to FRA class 2 track standards from Eureka to Samoa would be done by experienced railroad construction and maintenance forces working under competent railroad engineering direction. The SHN Feasibility Study was predicated on the assumed needs of a mythical tourist train operation and includes a $1 million maintenance facility not needed by a freight operator, plus excessive improvements in crossties and ballast section. Moreover, SHN probably assumed the work would be done by the public sector and would incur typical diseconomies of public sector work associated with unnecessary consultants doing unneeded “engineering design” and other studies to justify a suitable vig for themselves and the eponymous “low cost” contractor.