I know that “just put it on a freight train” doesn’t solve every logistics problem but it does kind of address this one. Maybe their solution should be focused on improving transloading between truck and train and using autonomous trucking to solve the “last mile(s)” problem for trains.
Oh I think the major rail lines should be used for long haul cargo traffic Salt Lake -> Reno -> Sacramento -> Bay Area would be one example an keep it off mountain roads.
The US have a well-developed and really busy network of freight trains. Trains already carry a lot of stuff that's economical to carry by train, especially bulk goods.
