Nation’s rail system needs billions

About $148 billion must be invested to expand the nation’s freight rail infrastructure over the next three decades to make sure there’s enough rail capacity to meet future demand, according to a study by Cambridge Systematics. The study explores the long-term capacity and expansion needs of the continental U.S. freight railroads. It found that rail freight transportation is expected to almost double over the next 30 years and that most of the $148 billion would be needed on the rail networks operated by the nation’s major freight railroads.