Why are there not more auto piloted trains? [closed]

1. Do passenger trains still exist?
2. Will freight trains become obsolete?
3. Why do freight trains stop?
4. Why is there a gap between train and platform?
5. Who owns most of the railroads?
6. Who is the biggest railroad in America?
7. Is Train obsolete?
8. Do railroads have a future?
9. Are trains getting longer?
10. Why can't trains stop?
11. Why do trains stop for hours?
12. Why do trains stop in middle of tracks?

Do passenger trains still exist?

Passenger Trains: A Guide To U.S. Rail Travel. Passenger trains are slowly becoming a popular means of transportation in the USA once again. However, lack of funding continues to stunt greater ridership. It has been shown over and over the public will ride trains if they are available.

Will freight trains become obsolete?

Trains will likely never become obsolete, they'll just become faster and more fuel efficient (granted that the oil lobby isn't able to pressure legislative blocks for the implementation of newer fuel efficiency standards in the future). ... Trains are fuel efficient for mass transport.

Why do freight trains stop?

There are number of reasons for trains to stop in the middle of the track. There maybe a train a head that is occupied by another train. ... There maybe someone or something blocking the track a head to the direction of approach. There maybe a switch or a deral that must be positioned before the train may proceed.

Why is there a gap between train and platform?

Straight platforms

The ideal platform would be straight and align perfectly with a train or other large vehicle. Even in this case, a small gap between the conveyances and the platform is necessary to allow the vehicles to move freely without rubbing against the platform edge.

Who owns most of the railroads?

BNSF, for example, is 46 percent owned by Wall Street investment funds. At CSX, the figure is 35 percent; at Union Pacific, 34 percent; at Kansas City Southern, 33 percent; and at Norfolk Southern, 32 percent, according to Bloomberg News.
...
Who owns the railroads.

Who is the biggest railroad in America?

Berkshire Hathaway/BNSF

BNSF is actually the largest railroad in North America by revenue ($23.9 billion in 2018), with only its chief competitor in the west, Union Pacific, rivaling it in terms of revenue. The other western railroad, Kansas City Southern, is around 9 times smaller than its two neighbors.

Is Train obsolete?

Railways are already obsolete, but the vast majority of socialists/democrats and ecologists (aka treehuggers) don't want to aknoledge that. Train travel died almost at the same time as railway steam traction did.

Do railroads have a future?

Railroads are optimistic about a future in which freight demand will continue to increase. ... As the Association of American Railroads' President and CEO, which is a role he took on in 2019, Ian Jefferies advocates for and works with member railroads to ensure the long-term viability of America's railroad industry.

Are trains getting longer?

Although there aren't many long trains navigating freight railroads' systems these days — 95 percent are shorter than 10,000 feet, according to the Association of American Railroads — Class Is have been lengthening trains for quite a while. “Operating longer trains on the nation's rail network is not a new phenomenon.

Why can't trains stop?

The major problems with attempting to stop or decelerate trains quickly are: The sliding friction between steel wheels and steel tracks is significantly lower than that available between bituminous concrete roads and pneumatic rubber tyres of road vehicles.

Why do trains stop for hours?

The reason trains stop, according to Bellamy, is because of a switch adjustment. “They have to pass the switch and then a carman or a switch man has to hop off and physically throw the switch (Bellamy described this as a lever on the ground) so that it changes the direction of the track.

Why do trains stop in middle of tracks?

Something blocking the tracks, route intersects with another train, derailing, track damage, etc. Maybe the train is ahead of schedule. Maybe a train ahead of them on the track is delayed. Maybe there's a fault with the signalling system.