patrick.net

Great just enough seats to squabble and shame over.
You would think by now they would take seats out totally by now, or have some kind seats or props, that hang from the ceiling almost like Merry Go'round seats.
I've been saying for years, what in the hell do we still need rails and tracks for trains for? Trains were invented before Wheeled mode of transportation was invented. I'm sure the only reason there are steel tracks in the United States is because of the Rail Road Monopoly established over 150 years ago.

Actually, trains are far more efficient than trucks, both in terms of fuel, and in terms of needing only one driver vs many.

https://www.mnn.com/green-tech/transportation/questions/which-is-more-efficient-for-freight-truck-or-train

In a deal that sparked much discussion and debate, Buffett bought out the remaining 77 percent of shares that his company did not own of BNSF Railway Co. in 2009. “It’s an all-in wager on the economic future of the United States,” he said at the time. Why? Because, he said, trucks have reached their peak of efficiency, and trains have not. Long-haul trains are three times more fuel efficient than trucks, says Matt Rose, CEO of BNSF. With oil prices climbing and not showing signs of falling anytime soon, that number is attractive to the shipper and, of course, the environment.

Buffett knows what he's doing.

This thing is a long slow-moving bus. The main innovation seems to be the legislative approach to give the special vehicle the right of way on its dotted lane, so the self-driving part is a lot easier. I hope the city where this is taking place doesn't snow on the ground in winter., or they would have to have special transponders buried under the ground to guide the vehicle in winter.

Buffet is buying the railway for its right of way and monopoly potential. Operating real tracked rail lines may or may not be more costly than trucks, but the barrier-to-entry factor is guaranteed to result in very high price and very high labor cost in the long run. It's the same reason why road-based trading systems historically collapsed much faster than sea-based trading systems: the lack of flexibility allowed rent-seekers all along the way. Think of a road as a sea lane with choke points all along the way susceptible to pirates. Tracks are even more so than roads, due to even higher barrier to entry building alternative tracks than building alternative roads. Competition is what keeps price down. An Asprin in a hospital can cost hundreds of dollars.

Reality says

rent-seekers all along the way

Thank you for pointing out the evil of rent-seeking.

Others: please note that I am talking about nonproductive rent-seeking, meaning the attempt to extract money from people without creating any new value.

LOl BART public sector unions will make anything impossible. Is that janitor making 200k a year still around.

Patrick says

Reality says

rent-seekers all along the way

Thank you for pointing out the evil of rent-seeking.

Others: please note that I am talking about nonproductive rent-seeking, meaning the attempt to extract money from people without creating any new value.

Yes, "Rent Seeking," as used in economic theory, has nothing to do with leases. And all consider Rent Seeking undesirable along with that other economic evil, "moral hazard." And likewise, Moral Hazard has nothing to do with ethics or good behavior.