Could somebody please direct me to a source of information regarding the percentage and total tonnage of intermodel freight hauled by North American RRs that is bridge traffic between China and Europe? I have an argument with somebody who is claiming that all container traffic between these two regions travels across the Indian Ocean up the Red Sea through the Suez Cannel and across the Mediterranean. I think he is insane.
Container traffic on CSX between New Orleans and Mobile appeared to increase damatically when the Panama Canal was turned over to the Panamanians, but that is purely anecdotal. I tried a quick Google search for container traffic, but turned up nothing pertinant, except that the Chinese have just started overland rail shipment of containers to Europe through Russia.
Distance wise, that seems the most logical route if it can be done politically. That would be a long, lonesome railroad trip, though. Longer that USA trips and even longer than Australian rails. Wonder how much volume that Russian line would handle?
From what I have read about Russia's trans-Siberian routes, I doubt if their current traffic density would keep even one dispatcher busy for all seven time zones. Of course I exagerate, but I believe they have ample potential for traffic expansion before they need to consider double-tracking.
