> It is very well optimized and efficient, but you're not going to order something with standard UPS or Fedex style shipping and see it delivered by rail
My package from China has arrived by rail, it took about 3 whleeks, and Aliexpress tracking showed it going through kazahstan and Russia
Yes, I should have specified in the US. In places with shared passenger and freight traffic (ie a lot of Europe and Asia), freight services can't hyper-optimize on very long, very slow, infrequent service.
This does result in usually less tonnage transported by rail, but service that is more flexible to faster shipping.
My package from China has arrived by rail, it took about 3 whleeks, and Aliexpress tracking showed it going through kazahstan and Russia