Has oil production peaked? Have we failed to plan for a future of oil scarcity by researching and developing alternative sources of energy? If you are concerned about these questions consider LIFE AFTER THE OIL CRASH and THE LONG EMERGENCY. If we are in fact running out of oil, what are the consequences for the railroad industry? Kunstler, in his book, reviewed at Amazon but hopefully purchased at someplace like Powells, is positive about the future of railroads as a long-haul mode of transportation in an otherwise regional reorganization of society and economy.
America today has a railroad system that the Bulgarians would be ashamed of. Neither of the two major presidential candidates in 2004 mentioned railroads, but if we don't refurbish our rail system, then there may be no long-range travel or transport of goods at all a few decades from now. The commercial aviation industry, already on its knees financially, is likely to vanish. The sheer cost of maintaining gigantic airports may not justify the operation of a much-reduced air-travel fleet. Railroads are far more energy efficient than cars, trucks or airplanes, and they can be run on anything from wood to electricity. The rail-bed infrastructure is also far more economical to maintain than our highway network.
So perhaps all the newhires looking for a railroading career are not making a big mistake but are in fact positioning themselves to succeed in the emerging economy.
12:37:04 PM
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