California State Rail Plan 2007-08 to 2017-18

2007-08 – 2017-18 California State Rail Planproducts from the San Joaquin Valley to Chicago). In 2000, carload trains carried783 million tons over 236 billion ton-miles. This is the equivalent of 20.1 billiontruck miles. However, within the commodity groups served by carload, railcaptures just seven percent of the tonnage, compared to 93 percent for truck andwater. Rail continues to seek ways to grow its share of mixed carload business,but to compete more effectively with trucking, it will need to increase its door-todoorreliability, lower its operating costs, and increase its overall handling speed.Intermodal (Container, Trailer, and Automobile)Intermodal trains move truck trailers and containerized goods containing finishedconsumer goods, refrigerated foods, parts and tools for manufacturing, rawmaterials, post-consumer scrap – almost anything that can be packed into acontainer or truck trailer. Rail shipments of automobiles are also treated asintermodal traffic since they share many of the characteristics of intermodalmerchandize (e.g., high-value, time-sensitive, etc.) and are handled in a similarmanner. However, the railroads usually market and account for automobile trafficas a separate service. Unlike unit train and carload traffic, intermodal traffic istypically two-way. Through California the BNSF moves more intermodal volumethan any other Class I Railroad in North America, the UP also handles a similarlysignificant volume of intermodal traffic through the State.Imported international containers may move inland from a seaport, be unloaded,and then reloaded with export cargo (if available) or with purely domestic cargo(taking advantage of discounts offered by the railroads and container owners) forthe “backhaul.” Similarly, auto trains may arrive at a port with export vehiclesand depart with import vehicles.Intermodal containers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They range from20-feet to 53-feet long and from 8-feet, 6-inches high to 9-feet, 9-inches high.International container volumes are measured in 20-foot equivalent units, orTEUs. A 20-foot container is counted as one TEU, and a 40-foot container iscounted as two TEUs. The 40-foot container is the most common type used inwaterborne transportation. Domestic containers typically are 48- or 53-feet long,and are modifications of standard over-the-road truck trailers. The contents ofthree40-foot containers will fit into two 53-foot containers, thus eliminating costsassociated with transporting an extra 40-foot container. That is, the cost to ship a53-foot container is the same as shipping a 40-foot container. So transloadingthree 40-foot containers into two 53-foot containers provide a major economicbenefit to shippers. This is also beneficial in terms of fewer truck trips generatedon the highways, which reduces roadway damage, and creates fuel savings, safety,congestion and environmental benefits.Standard truck trailers also appear in intermodal service in sizes ranging from28- to 53-feet long. In the year 2000, 51 percent of intermodal traffic was in222