The Train Job

How come nobody takes the train anymore? That question is largely rhetorical. I mean, I can at least conjure up some reasons why the train has gone out of fashion. It's actually harder for me to think of reasons why the train does exist. It seems pretty much useless at this point.

Unless, of course, we find a new use fot it. And that's going to be my idea. I was thinking, not unlike cruise ships, you could use them as a slow, luxury form of travel. However you'd be severely limited on where you could go AND I liked the previous idea of luxury airships so much, I don't want to detract from it.

No, here's what I want to do with the train lines. Disaster relief teams. Or something like that. Here's what I'm imagining. Everything a city could need in a non-military crisis is stored on trains in various parts of the country. Volunteer, on-call staff is at the ready, minuteman style, to board the train and make the trip to wherever they're needed.

Why is this better then say, the way it is now? You know, with trucks and planes and stuff. Here's what I'm thinking: A train can serve as a semi-permanent command post and even temporary housing if need be in the case of emergency. There doesn't need to be a trailer brought in, or a generator set-up. There is the chance that train tracks could be damaged, so you'd want to equip it with ATV's and stuff. And maybe some jetpacks. Jetpacks are fucking awesome.

Oh, and let's run in it on solar power so the enviros will be happy.