[lobochrome]

There is a tendency to undervalue the importance of feeder lines to the main arteries. Individually yes they might be unprofitable - but they provide value to a railway system. This process has happens in Germany over the last 30 years following privatization attempts. Only slowly are people realizing the detriments.

Almost like in a circulatory system - cutting of the tiny vessels isn’t a recipe for success even if the main system can function for a while without them.

[p_l]

It's also a lesson from Beeching axe, that you can't expect to replace feeder lines with individual cars, and that without feeder lines, the profitable mainline stops being profitable.