Cost and safety spur rail revival.

• Position: International boom in railroad traffic

A growing world transportation crisis is driving government funding away from building roads and airports and toward a global rail revival, according to a report by the Worldwatch Institute, providing an economic boon to the regions involved. European planners are creating a high-speed rail system connecting every major European city. China plans a $20,000,000,000 investment in rail expansion and upgrading by 1995. Germany will invest more in rail infrastructure than in roads through the year 2010. India's rail passenger traffic has risen more than fourfold since 1950. Even the land of the car, Southern California, is building a 400-mile Los Angeles regional commuter rail system.

Perhaps the most welcome benefit of the rail revival is economic, indicates Marcia D. Lowe, author of the report. Although government support of rail is necessary--since passenger fares seldom cover the full cost of train service--this subsidy pales in comparison to the hidden costs of road travel. For example, in the U.S., direct taxes on automobiles and gasoline barely cover two-thirds of the expense of road building, maintenance, administration, and safety.

Energy savings also are considerable. An intercity...