"A genuinely communist society would go round, ..." Ah, no.

Okay. Sorry for posing the question in the first place.

Commies would look at the life cycle cost. High initial cost to go through the mountain, less fuel and maintenance forever. Cheaper to all in the long run.

Cappies would look at the cheap cost up front and tack on the future costs to the consumer. Fuck em, we own the railroad. They will pay what we charge.

Sorry. It was silly of me to go about that like it was a contest. I apologize for seeming trite or condescending.