ON THE COVER
White flags fluttering over the cab windows signal that this Southern Railway freight train is "running extra" as it highballs down the railway's mainline track in northern Virginia.
Whether operating on regular schedules or as extra sections, freight trains offer shippers a high-volume, low-cost transportation service unmatched by competing carriers.
In recent weeks, Southern has stirred considerable interest by declaring its intent to keep this competitive advantage by refusing to increase any freight rate where it might tend to price Southern out of the market.