US rail freight spend $440B

[ozbob]

http://www.abc.net.au/rural/telegraph/content/2006/s2262315.htm

ABC National Radio - Bush telegraph

US rail freight spend $440B

By Catherine Clifford

Monday, 02/06/2008

While Australia struggles to make significant funding commitments to fix its ailing freight rail network, the Americans have pumped more than AUD$440 billion into theirs over the past 25 years.

In the late 1970s the Americans realised they were facing a transport infrastructure crisis. So, the then US President, Jimmy Carter, signed off on the Staggers Act (named after Democrat Congressman Harley Staggers) and deregulated the railroad industry.

The move saved the US rail freight system from total collapse, says Tom White from the Association of American Railroads.

In this report: Tom White, communications spokesman, Association of American Railroads (AAR), Washington, DC; Randy Gordon, vice-president of government relations and communications, National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA), Washington DC; Geoff Teys, executive director of livestock, Teys Group.

Audio --> http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/rn/podcast/current/audioonly/bth_20080602.mp3