[Fraxinus]

I wonder how much traffic could be replaced by extending train service down the length of I-81 to Bristol. Even 10% would be huge.

Less than you are thinking, much of the truck traffic is trucks avoiding the highly congested 95 corridor and my understanding is that the class 1 railroads are not very interested in intermodal traffic that travels less than ~500 to 750mi or about one day's haul as they cannot move it any faster.

[dangus]

There already is freight train service... and the truck freight proves you right. But I had meant reducing passenger cars.