Warren Buffet invests in trains: http://www.cnbc.com/id/20519680/ Freight ship with parachute-like sail: http://www.shippingtimes.co.uk/images/Beluga_SkySails.jpg

The sails in the picture are being winched in. Normally, they fly like a kite, about 200 m above the ship, and tow it forwards. The winds are much stronger up there. It also looks like the kite has been partially furled - the picture on Wikipedia looks much bigger:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Beluga_Skysails

the gas savings outweighed the cost of the parachute or they wouldn't have done it. 1% savings on a ship that size is significant money.

I'm referring actually to the transportation system within the United States and the "last mile" effort required to deliver goods. As fanciful as it is to think that rails is the replacement, it's not. It's a supplement to the system.