What would be the benefits of having a railway instead of multi-lane highways?

Answer 1

There are numerous benefits.

Railways use significantly less land space than highways to carry the same, or more, passengers and cargo. Often times, they are less of a divisive barrier to communities and neighbourhoods, too.

The nature of large multi-lane highways is that they will never have excess capacity. If you have 4 lanes, and expand to 6, those additional lanes still fill up almost immediately after being open. Building excess highway capacity is a fruitless pursuit.

Excess capacity for a railway is extremely possible. However, since most railways these days are private-run businesses, there is no such thing as excess capacity. The drive for profit and efficiency usually means there's just enough tracks to go around, with very little excess. But, it can be done.

Answer 2

Aside from the economic and environmental benefits, a railway is much safer because it is integrated in its operation, while a road system isn't.

That is why in a 'developed' country with a high level of car ownership you get thousands of deaths and serious injuries from road accidents every year, while the casualties from rail accidents are negligible given the far smaller rate of accidents and the number of passenger-miles covered annually.

Or, to put it another way, e.g. the worst British rail accident in recent memory is the Paddington rail crash of a few years ago in which 30 people died. The same number of people are killed every 3 days on Britain's roads.

Incidentally, the motor car dates back to 1885, a time when many of the safety features we take for granted on the railways today were still being developed (e.g. continuous brakes, telegraph, interlocking, block system - only 1 train allowed on each section of track) and some of them (e.g. automatic train control or atc) had yet to be invented.

Answer 3

Less fuel used. You can power a railroad by electric with off-the-shelf parts, as opposed to convincing General Motors to actually ship a Volt electric car instead of just talking about it. Which means you can more easily move it to green power.

That also means if there's an oil war, it won't hose your economy like it would if you were highway dependent.

China understands this.

Answer 4

The question is academic.

The state and federal highway systems as well as all major freight rail carriers are already stretched to the max. New construction and retro-fitting is needed now.

But, all we'll get is more hand wringing in DC., and unless it becomes a campaign issue, which is unlikely, it will get even less than no attention, which is nothing more than the status quo.

Answer 5

None? Railways were the major mode of transportation in the US till the 60's. There is a reason railways are primarily used for commercial transport today, Amtrack, the only remaining passenger railroad hasn't made any money in 30 years.
It is great if you are prepared to allow the railroad route determine where you will live, work and shop.
Most of us enjoy our PERSONAL spatial freedom.

Answer 6

Less traffic = less pollution going into the ozone layer and faster commute times (depending I suppose on where the railway is in terms of where one has to travel to.)

Answer 7

the railway carrys many people useing less energy than all the cars on the mutilane high way, thus helping stop globle warming and the farget bush and all his oil friends

Answer 8

Rail way is like 10 times faster and u can transprt huge amount of products.

Answer 9

well i think the their aren't really that many benifts even though there is no traffic it still goes pretty slow. yes i know mulitlane can have hours of traffic but when their isn't it's pretty fast if you wan to transport material.

Answer 10

You could blow up people and disrupt urban activity much more efficiently.

I mean, if you were a terrorist, you could.