在放松管制前，美国铁路运输每况愈下濒临破产。资金回报率从20世纪40年代微薄的4.1% 下降到20世纪60年代的3%以下。1970年巨人宾夕法尼亚中央铁路【5】（giant Penn Central ）破产倒闭和金融危机的影响都对铁路运输业造成了巨大的冲击。到1980年，破产公司拥有的铁路里程占了的全国铁路的五分之一，铁路货运占州际间货物运输的份额由20世纪20年代的75%下降到35%。许多铁轨被长久闲置，缺乏维修保养，导致列车运行速度不断降低，服务质量趋于恶化。当时的人们杜撰出“长期停运”这一词汇，用来形容长期停放的车厢压垮了轮子下面的铁轨而造成车厢侧翻。
好强悍的译文……呵呵……佩服啊……倒数第三段的“The railroads are also concerned that the federal government will be the final arbiter of how new capacity created with the federal funds will be allocated between passenger and freight traffic”这句没有翻译的……
America’s system of rail freight is the world’s best. High-speed passenger trains could ruin it
美国货运铁路在世界上独占鳌头。高速铁路客运列车可能使它的地位毁于一旦。
Jul 22nd 2010 | 2010年7月22日
From The Economist print edition
UNION STATION in Los Angeles has been restored as a fine example of the Art Deco architecture that typified California in the 1930s. It has served as a backdrop for many Hollywood films, from “Union Station” (naturally) to “Blade Runner” and “Star Trek: First Contact”. It was the last grand station to be built before America’s passenger railways went into what you might call terminal decline.
Today it is a hub for Metrolink commuter trains and Amtrak services to faraway cities such as Chicago and Seattle. 【1】These trains have to pull in and then back out in a clumsy manoeuvre. But there are plans for through tracks in time to carry the high-speed services that California is desperate to have by 2020 under an ambitious $42 billion plan to connect San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento.
Today it is a hub for Metrolink commuter trains and Amtrak services to faraway cities such as Chicago and Seattle. 【1】
=====================================================
Metrolink市郊列车和美铁只是使用联合车站的线路，尚未有总站之称。所以能不能译为：如今，它是Metrolink市郊列车和美铁开往诸如芝加哥和西雅图等长距离城市的交通枢纽。“当然，我觉得这句话还是有点长了。估计读者看不下去。
California’s plans were given a boost by Barack Obama’s stimulus package last year. This earmarks a lump sum of $8 billion, plus $1 billion a year, to help construct fast rail corridors around America (see map). Such lines are common in Europe, Japan and, increasingly, China, yet the only thing at all like them in America is Amtrak’s Acela service from Boston via New York to Washington, DC. It rarely reaches its top speed of 150mph (240kph) and for much of the way manages little more than【4】 half that, because the track is not equipped for higher speeds. Acela, like virtually all trains run by publicly owned Amtrak , has to use tracks belonging to freight railways, whose trains trundle along at 50mph; passenger trains must stick below 80mph. Despite the excitement of railway buffs and the enthusiasm of environmentalists, high-speed rail in America is likely to mean a few more diesel-electric intercity trains at 110mph, not swish electric expresses going nearly twice as fast.
But the problem with America’s plans for high-speed rail is not their modesty【6】. It is that even this limited ambition【7】 risks messing up the successful freight railways. Their owners worry that the plans will demand expensive train-control technology that freight traffic could do without. They fear a reduction in the capacity available to freight. Most of all they fret that the spending of federal money on upgrading their tracks will lead the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the industry watchdog, to impose tough conditions on them and, in effect, to reintroduce regulation of their operations. Attempts at re-regulation have been made in Congress in recent years, in response to rising freight rates【8】. “The freight railroads feel they are under attack,” says Don Phillips, a rail expert in Virginia.
But the problem with America’s plans for high-speed rail is not their modesty【6】
=====================================================
首先，modesty 有一种解释是the state of being not very large, expensive, important, etc。再次，请注意到“with”这个词，所以对这句话的理解，我认为是：“但美国高铁计划带来的问题并不是其规模小”。
even this limited ambition【7】
=====================================================
这句话我认为还是不能简单的翻译成：” 怕冒险激进的举措“，实际上这种积极进取的内心已经得到了抑制，为什么要译成“冒险激进”呢？
这个整句话，我的理解是：”但美国高铁计划带来的问题并不是其规模小，而是已有所抑制的积极冒险会使货运铁路已取得的成功付之东流。“
Attempts at re-regulation have been made in Congress in recent years, in response to rising freight rates【8】.
=====================================================
这句话到底什么意思，我认为还是有商榷的地方。我的理解是：”近年来，他们在国会里反调控，作为对提高货运价格的回应。“主语是谁，还是要弄清楚。我认为是那些拥有者。
America’s railways are the mirror image of Europe’s. Europe has an impressive and growing network of high-speed passenger links, many of them international, like the Thalys service between Paris and Brussels or the Eurostar connecting London to the French and Belgian capitals. These are successful—although once the (off-balance-sheet) costs of building the tracks are counted, they need subsidies of billions of dollars a year. But, outside Germany and Switzerland, Europe’s freight rail services are a fragmented, lossmaking mess. Repeated attempts to remove the technical and bureaucratic hurdles at national frontiers have come to nothing.
Amtrak’s passenger services are sparse compared with Europe’s. But America’s freight railways are one of the unsung transport successes of the past 30 years. They are universally recognised in the industry as the best in the world.
Their good run started with deregulation at the end of Jimmy Carter’s administration. Two years after the liberalisation of aviation【10】 gave rise to budget carriers and cheap fares, the freeing of rail freight, under the Staggers Rail Act of 1980, started a wave of consolidation and improvement. Staggers gave railways freedom to charge market rates, enter confidential contracts with shippers and run trains as they liked. They could close passenger and branch lines, as long as they preserved access for Amtrak services. They were allowed to sell lossmaking lines to new short-haul railroads. Regulation of freight rates by the Interstate Commerce Commission was removed for most cargoes, provided they could go by road.
Two years after the liberalisation of aviation【10】
=====================================================
这句话是翻译成：”航空自由化两年后“还是”两年后航空的自由化“，时间起点是哪里？难道是卡特政府执政后？
Before deregulation America’s railways were going bust. The return on capital fell from a meagre 4.1% in the 1940s 【11】to less than 3% in the 1960s. In 1970 the collapse of the giant Penn Central【12】 caused a huge shock, including a financial crisis【13】. By 1980 a fifth of rail mileage was owned by bankrupt firms. Rail’s share of intercity freight had slumped to 35% from 75% in the 1920s. Tracks were neglected and fell into disrepair, leading to a downward spiral of speed restrictions and deteriorating service. The term “standing derailment” was coined to describe the toppling-over of stationary freight wagons when the track gave way beneath their wheels.
Penn Central【12】
=====================================================
Penn Central：宾夕法尼亚•纽约中央运输中心
including a financial crisis【13】
=====================================================
”经济危机“是原因还是结果？我认为是结果，作为”巨大影响“的一部分。
Several factors had combined to bring about this sorry state of affairs. Services and rates were tightly regulated. Companies were obliged to run passenger services that could not make a profit. And road haulage received a huge boost from the building of the interstate highway system, which began in the late 1950s. Although this was supposed to be financed by taxes on petrol and diesel, railmen saw it as a form of subsidy to a new competitor, the nationwide trucking industry. In a neat twist, the poor condition of today’s highways and the lack of public money for repairs have tilted the competitive advantage back to a rejuvenated rail-freight industry.
Giving the railroads the freedom to run their business as they saw fit led to dramatic improvements. The first result was a sharp rise in traffic and productivity and fall in freight costs. Since 1981 productivity has risen by 172%, after years of stagnation【14】. Adjusted for inflation, rates are down by 55% since 1981 (see chart 1). Rail’s share of the freight market, measured in ton-miles, has risen steadily to 43%—about the highest in any rich country.
after years of stagnation【14】.
=====================================================
这句话漏译，但是我觉得不译也可以。您斟酌吧。
The $34 billion purchase last year by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway of Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF), one of the seven main freight railways 【15】(see chart 2), opened many Americans’ eyes to the industry’s significance. That America’s shrewdest investor should place his biggest bet on BNSF focused attention on how the country’s railways have been quietly boosting the economy by sucking costs out of many supply chains.【16】
去年沃伦.巴菲特的伯克希尔哈撒韦公司以340亿美元的收购伯灵顿北方圣达菲铁路公司(BNSF)——美国主要货运铁路之一（见图2），让美国人放开眼界重新认识这个产业的重要性。美国最精明的投资者应该把他们的赌注压在伯灵顿北方圣达菲身上，这家公司一直致力于如何利用铁路赚取众多供应链中的费用成本以默默无闻地带动经济发展。
seven main freight railways 【15】
=====================================================
七大货运铁路，应该还是要翻译的吧？
That America’s shrewdest investor should place his biggest bet on BNSF focused attention on how the country’s railways have been quietly boosting the economy by sucking costs out of many supply chains.【16】
=====================================================
这句话的结构是什么，我理一下：“That……focused attention on how……”，至于怎么翻译如下:” 美国最精明的投资者应该把他们的赌注压在伯灵顿北方圣达菲身上，这使人们注意到国家铁路是如何从众多供应链中的费用成本盈利，以默默无闻地带动经济发展的。”
Despite the excitement of railway buffs and the enthusiasm of environmentalists, high-speed rail in America is likely to mean a few more diesel-electric intercity trains at 110mph, not swish electric expresses going nearly twice as fast.
尽管这令铁路发烧友们兴奋不已和环保人士热情高涨，但这可能意味着美国的未来高铁只可能比110英里/小时的内燃电力城际列车速度稍快,而不会是速度两倍于它的“超速静音”电力特快列车。
这里的few more ，而不是few more than，所以认为应翻成“只是多一些110英里/小时的内燃电力城际列车”
These are successful—although once the (off-balance-sheet) costs of building the tracks are counted, they need subsidies of billions of dollars a year.
尽管就建造铁路的成本计算，他们曾一度陷入亏损境地（根据资产负债表），但它们现在是成功的，而且仍需要每年数十亿美元的资助资金。
这里的once有理解偏差，不是一度的意思，而是一旦的意思。所以认为应翻成“虽然一旦计入铁路的建路成本，它仍然需要每年数十亿美元的补贴，但们他们现在是成功的”
Coal is the biggest single cargo, accounting for 45% by volume and 23% by value.
煤炭是最大的单一运输货物，占总货运体积的45%和货运总值的23%。
这里的single似乎只是强调煤是最大的，并没有单一这一层意思。拟去掉 单一
The number of such shipments rose from 3m in 1980 to 12.3m in 2006, before the downturn caused a slight falling back.
装载数量由1980年的300万增长到2006年的1230万，但在经济衰退前有轻微下滑。
这里的“before the downturn caused a slight falling back” 是一个从句，也就是说 before是领整个从句，而不是介词指在经济危机之前，应翻成“仅在之后的经济危机有轻微的下滑”
In addition the freight railroads face a $15 billion bill for a new safety system to control trains on lines that also carry passengers or dangerous chemical cargoes.
此外，货运列车还面临150亿美元的资金缺口，这笔资金将用于安装一种新型安全系统以控制包括旅客和危险化学品货物列车在内的线上运营列车。
这里的“control trains on lines that also carry passengers or dangerous chemical cargoes.”没有翻译准备，确切地说，是控制那些与旅客列车和危险化学品货物列车共用一条车的列车。
The railways are seeking tax breaks and other subsidies to reduce the cost of complying.
为了减少因遵从法案造成的费用损失，铁路正积极寻求税赋减免和其它募捐资金。
这里的蓝色部分翻得很准确到位，也很符合中文的习惯，非常佩服！但是subsidy这里不是很准确，一般来说，它是指政府补助，而且从语境来讲，也应指从政府得到的补贴，而不是募捐的资金。事实上，由于遵从法案而靠成费用损失，由政府来补贴，也更合理一些。在美国，法律制度的健全和实行，都是需要大量的资金来支撑，补贴是其中一个方式.
The railroads retort that despite record traffic and profits, their return on investment since 2000 has been only 8%, which according to the Surface Transportation Board, another federal regulator, barely covers the cost of capital.
铁路反驳说尽管铁路运输量和利润均创历史新高，但据水陆运输委员会（另一个联邦管理机构）的数据统计，自2002年以来他们的投资回报率一直维持在8%，能收回成本的时候都很少见。
“barely covers the cost of capital”这句话的翻译好像有点问题，我不是学金融的，但是我认为这里cost of capital是特指资本本身的成本，有可能是利息，或者跟借贷有关的成本。另查，wikipedia有专门的定义，“The cost of capital is the cost of a company's funds (both debt and equity), or, from an investor's point of view "the expected return on a portfolio of all the company's existing securities".[1] It is used to evaluate new projects of a company as it is the minimum return that investors expect for providing capital to the company, thus setting a benchmark that a new project has to meet.”
“wise regulators who will provide certainty about allowable returns so that we can confidently make the huge investments required to maintain, replace and expand the plant.”
“开明的管理者能提供可靠的免税回报额，让我们更有信心去筹措足够的资金来维护，更换和扩充电网设施。”
这里翻译有些问题，讲是说需要开明的管理者能通过regulation(规范) 来保证投资者有可靠的回报，而并非由管理者本身提供免税回报。
Some railmen calculate that this is equivalent to a subsidy of about $240m a year, on top of what Amtrak gets from the government.
一些铁路员工计算了下这笔费用，其相当于一年2.4亿美元的资助资金，与美铁从联邦政府拿到的财政补贴接近。
On top of 这里翻错了，是在……之上的意思，指在美铁拿的政府补贴之外还需要2.4亿美元的补贴。但是我对本句的意义也有疑问。似乎是想强调整如果要这么干的话（指让AMTREK使用铁路公司来客运的话），那么就有太多的成本需要政府的补贴了。强调这个计划对政府成本太重。而后一句点明如果政府不补贴的话，铁路公司就只能把这个成本嫁转到消费者身上而提高运费。似乎更贴切一些。
Today it is a hub for Metrolink commuter trains and Amtrak services to faraway cities such as Chicago and Seattle. 【1】
=====================================================
Metrolink市郊列车和美铁只是使用联合车站的线路，尚未有总站之称。所以能不能译为：如今，它是Metrolink市郊列车和美铁开往诸如芝加哥和西雅图等长距离城市的交通枢纽。“当然，我觉得这句话还是有点长了。估计读者看不下去。
But there are plans for through tracks in time to carry the high-speed services that California is desperate to have by 2020 under an ambitious $42 billion plan to connect San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento.
But the problem with America’s plans for high-speed rail is not their modesty【6】
=====================================================
首先，modesty 有一种解释是the state of being not very large, expensive, important, etc。再次，请注意到“with”这个词，所以对这句话的理解，我认为是：“但美国高铁计划带来的问题并不是其规模小”。
even this limited ambition【7】
=====================================================
这句话我认为还是不能简单的翻译成：” 怕冒险激进的举措“，实际上这种积极进取的内心已经得到了抑制，为什么要译成“冒险激进”呢？
这个整句话，我的理解是：”但美国高铁计划带来的问题并不是其规模小，而是已有所抑制的积极冒险会使货运铁路已取得的成功付之东流。“
Attempts at re-regulation have been made in Congress in recent years, in response to rising freight rates【8】.
=====================================================
这句话到底什么意思，我认为还是有商榷的地方。我的理解是：”近年来，他们在国会里反调控，作为对提高货运价格的回应。“主语是谁，还是要弄清楚。我认为是那些拥有者。
回复【8】
re-regulation 没有"反"的意思，反的词缀是anti
“... the spending of federal money on upgrading their tracks will lead the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), ....to impose tough conditions on them and, in effect, to reintroduce regulation of their operations. Attempts at re-regulation have been made in Congress in recent years, in response to rising freight rates.”
把这句话Attempts at re-regulation have been made in Congress in recent years, in response to rising freight rates改造下就是： In recent years,congress has made attempts to re-regulate railways , in response....
1.Their good run started with deregulation at the end of Jimmy Carter’s administration.
吉米卡特(Jimmy Carter)政府执政后期解除了对铁路的管制，货运铁路迎来了它的黄金时期。
2.Another looming threat is re-regulation.
另一个潜在的威胁是铁路管理权会回归政府。
3.Politicians from West Virginia have been pushing a bill in Congress that threatens to re-regulate the railways. The industry seems confident it will not get through。
西弗吉亚州的政客们一直在国会中推动扬言要收回铁路管理权的议案。
“although once the (off-balance-sheet) costs of building the tracks are counted, they..... ”
我可能理解错了
＂once＂在这里应该是＂一旦／要是＂的意思，＂要是把建造铁路的成本也算上的话．．．＂
Two years after the liberalisation of aviation【10】
=====================================================
这句话是翻译成：”航空自由化两年后“还是”两年后航空的自由化“，时间起点是哪里？难道是卡特政府执政后？
回复【10】
Two years after the liberalisation of aviation【10】 gave rise to budget carriers and cheap fares,
Penn Central【12】
=====================================================
Penn Central：宾夕法尼亚•纽约中央运输中心
回复【12】
（giant Penn Central ）由宾夕法尼亚铁路公司和纽约中央铁路公司合并重组而成，所以按字面就翻译成“巨人宾夕法尼亚中央铁路”就可以 。这个短命的巨人铁路业只营运了867天就申请破产倒闭了。
including a financial crisis【13】
=====================================================
”经济危机“是原因还是结果？我认为是结果，作为”巨大影响“的一部分。
回复【13】
我认为是giant Penn Central的倒闭和regan政府时期（1970）发生的金融危机的共同作用对铁路业造成巨大的冲击。
Giving the railroads the freedom to run their business as they saw fit led to dramatic improvements. The first result was a sharp rise in traffic and productivity and fall in freight costs. Since 1981 productivity has risen by 172%, after years of stagnation【14】. Adjusted for inflation, rates are down by 55% since 1981 (see chart 1). Rail’s share of the freight market, measured in ton-miles, has risen steadily to 43%—about the highest in any rich country.
after years of stagnation【14】.
=====================================================
这句话漏译，但是我觉得不译也可以。您斟酌吧。
回复【14】
这句没有漏译，请再仔细看下。
The $34 billion purchase last year by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway of Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF), one of the seven main freight railways 【15】(see chart 2), opened many Americans’ eyes to the industry’s significance. That America’s shrewdest investor should place his biggest bet on BNSF focused attention on how the country’s railways have been quietly boosting the economy by sucking costs out of many supply chains.【16】
去年沃伦.巴菲特的伯克希尔哈撒韦公司以340亿美元的收购伯灵顿北方圣达菲铁路公司(BNSF)——美国主要货运铁路之一（见图2），让美国人放开眼界重新认识这个产业的重要性。美国最精明的投资者应该把他们的赌注压在伯灵顿北方圣达菲身上，这家公司一直致力于如何利用铁路赚取众多供应链中的费用成本以默默无闻地带动经济发展。
seven main freight railways 【15】
=====================================================
七大货运铁路，应该还是要翻译的吧？
回复【15】
当时看太快了，把seven看成the了。已改正！！
That America’s shrewdest investor should place his biggest bet on BNSF focused attention on how the country’s railways have been quietly boosting the economy by sucking costs out of many supply chains.【16】
=====================================================
这句话的结构是什么，我理一下：“That……focused attention on how……”，至于怎么翻译如下:” 美国最精明的投资者应该把他们的赌注压在伯灵顿北方圣达菲身上，这使人们注意到国家铁路是如何从众多供应链中的费用成本盈利，以默默无闻地带动经济发展的。”
Despite the excitement of railway buffs and the enthusiasm of environmentalists, high-speed rail in America is likely to mean a few more diesel-electric intercity trains at 110mph, not swish electric expresses going nearly twice as fast.
尽管这令铁路发烧友们兴奋不已和环保人士热情高涨，但这可能意味着美国的未来高铁只可能比110英里/小时的内燃电力城际列车速度稍快,而不会是速度两倍于它的“超速静音”电力特快列车。
这里的few more ，而不是few more than，所以认为应翻成“只是多一些110英里/小时的内燃电力城际列车”
你理解的不错，应该翻译成＂美国的高铁可能更象是一些时速110英里/小时的内燃电力城际列车＂
These are successful—although once the (off-balance-sheet) costs of building the tracks are counted, they need subsidies of billions of dollars a year.
尽管就建造铁路的成本计算，他们曾一度陷入亏损境地（根据资产负债表），但它们现在是成功的，而且仍需要每年数十亿美元的资助资金。
这里的once有理解偏差，不是一度的意思，而是一旦的意思。所以认为应翻成“虽然一旦计入铁路的建路成本，它仍然需要每年数十亿美元的补贴，但们他们现在是成功的”
Coal is the biggest single cargo, accounting for 45% by volume and 23% by value.
煤炭是最大的单一运输货物，占总货运体积的45%和货运总值的23%。
这里的single似乎只是强调煤是最大的，并没有单一这一层意思。拟去掉 单一
The number of such shipments rose from 3m in 1980 to 12.3m in 2006, before the downturn caused a slight falling back.
装载数量由1980年的300万增长到2006年的1230万，但在经济衰退前有轻微下滑。
这里的“before the downturn caused a slight falling back” 是一个从句，也就是说 before是领整个从句，而不是介词指在经济危机之前，应翻成“仅在之后的经济危机有轻微的下滑”
In addition the freight railroads face a $15 billion bill for a new safety system to control trains on lines that also carry passengers or dangerous chemical cargoes.
此外，货运列车还面临150亿美元的资金缺口，这笔资金将用于安装一种新型安全系统以控制包括旅客和危险化学品货物列车在内的线上运营列车。
这里的“control trains on lines that also carry passengers or dangerous chemical cargoes.”没有翻译准备，确切地说，是控制那些与旅客列车和危险化学品货物列车共用一条车的列车。
The railways are seeking tax breaks and other subsidies to reduce the cost of complying.
为了减少因遵从法案造成的费用损失，铁路正积极寻求税赋减免和其它募捐资金。
这里的蓝色部分翻得很准确到位，也很符合中文的习惯，非常佩服！但是subsidy这里不是很准确，一般来说，它是指政府补助，而且从语境来讲，也应指从政府得到的补贴，而不是募捐的资金。事实上，由于遵从法案而靠成费用损失，由政府来补贴，也更合理一些。在美国，法律制度的健全和实行，都是需要大量的资金来支撑，补贴是其中一个方式.
The railroads retort that despite record traffic and profits, their return on investment since 2000 has been only 8%, which according to the Surface Transportation Board, another federal regulator, barely covers the cost of capital.
铁路公司反驳说尽管铁路运输量和利润均创历史新高，但据水陆运输委员会（另一个联邦管理机构）的数据统计，自2002年以来他们的投资回报率一直维持在8%，能收回成本的时候都很少见。
“barely covers the cost of capital”这句话的翻译好像有点问题，我不是学金融的，但是我认为这里cost of capital是特指资本本身的成本，有可能是利息，或者跟借贷有关的成本。另查，wikipedia有专门的定义，“The cost of capital is the cost of a company's funds (both debt and equity), or, from an investor's point of view "the expected return on a portfolio of all the company's existing securities".[1] It is used to evaluate new projects of a company as it is the minimum return that investors expect for providing capital to the company, thus setting a benchmark that a new project has to meet.”
the cost of capital应该就是指“投资成本”，可能我译文忘掉了“投资”这两个字；这段话是说当客户抱怨铁路总是提高运价，铁路公司表示他们有苦衷，并拿出STB的官方数据证明，他们的投资回报率其实是很低的，才8%。每投入100元才赚8块钱，说明铁路提高运价也是有心可原的。因为大多时候可能连本都赚不回来。
“wise regulators who will provide certainty about allowable returns so that we can confidently make the huge investments required to maintain, replace and expand the plant.”
“开明的管理者能提供可靠的免税回报额，让我们更有信心去筹措足够的资金来维护，更换和扩充电网设施。”
这里翻译有些问题，讲是说需要开明的管理者能通过regulation(规范) 来保证投资者有可靠的回报，而并非由管理者本身提供免税回报。
Some railmen calculate that this is equivalent to a subsidy of about $240m a year, on top of what Amtrak gets from the government.
一些铁路员工计算了下这笔费用，其相当于一年2.4亿美元的资助资金，与美铁从联邦政府拿到的财政补贴接近。
On top of 这里翻错了，是在……之上的意思，指在美铁拿的政府补贴之外还需要2.4亿美元的补贴。但是我对本句的意义也有疑问。似乎是想强调整如果要这么干的话（指让AMTREK使用铁路公司来客运的话），那么就有太多的成本需要政府的补贴了。强调这个计划对政府成本太重。而后一句点明如果政府不补贴的话，铁路公司就只能把这个成本嫁转到消费者身上而提高运费。似乎更贴切一些。
Despite the excitement of railway buffs and the enthusiasm of environmentalists, high-speed rail in America is likely to mean a few more diesel-electric intercity trains at 110mph, not swish electric expresses going nearly twice as fast.
尽管这令铁路发烧友们兴奋不已和环保人士热情高涨，但这可能意味着美国的未来高铁只可能比110英里/小时的内燃电力城际列车速度稍快,而不会是速度两倍于它的“超速静音”电力特快列车。
这里的few more ，而不是few more than，所以认为应翻成“只是多一些110英里/小时的内燃电力城际列车”
你理解的不错，应该翻译成＂美国的高铁可能更象是一些时速110英里/小时的内燃电力城际列车＂
这里我还是觉得 a few more是形容这个trains，是指多一些这种列车，而不是“更像”的意思。
Coal is the biggest single cargo, accounting for 45% by volume and 23% by value.
煤炭是最大的单一运输货物，占总货运体积的45%和货运总值的23%。
这里的single似乎只是强调煤是最大的，并没有单一这一层意思。拟去掉 单一
In addition the freight railroads face a $15 billion bill for a new safety system to control trains on lines that also carry passengers or dangerous chemical cargoes.
此外，货运列车还面临150亿美元的资金缺口，这笔资金将用于安装一种新型安全系统以控制包括旅客和危险化学品货物列车在内的线上运营列车。
这里的“control trains on lines that also carry passengers or dangerous chemical cargoes.”没有翻译准备，确切地说，是控制那些与旅客列车和危险化学品货物列车共用一条车的列车。
The railways are seeking tax breaks and other subsidies to reduce the cost of complying.
为了减少因遵从法案造成的费用损失，铁路正积极寻求税赋减免和其它募捐资金。
这里的蓝色部分翻得很准确到位，也很符合中文的习惯，非常佩服！但是subsidy这里不是很准确，一般来说，它是指政府补助，而且从语境来讲，也应指从政府得到的补贴，而不是募捐的资金。事实上，由于遵从法案而靠成费用损失，由政府来补贴，也更合理一些。在美国，法律制度的健全和实行，都是需要大量的资金来支撑，补贴是其中一个方式.
“wise regulators who will provide certainty about allowable returns so that we can confidently make the huge investments required to maintain, replace and expand the plant.”
“开明的管理者能提供可靠的免税回报额，让我们更有信心去筹措足够的资金来维护，更换和扩充电网设施。”
这里翻译有些问题，讲是说需要开明的管理者能通过regulation(规范) 来保证投资者有可靠的回报，而并非由管理者本身提供免税回报。
Despite the excitement of railway buffs and the enthusiasm of environmentalists, high-speed rail in America is likely to mean a few more diesel-electric intercity trains at 110mph, not swish electric expresses going nearly twice as fast.
尽管这令铁路发烧友们兴奋不已和环保人士热情高涨，但这可能意味着美国的未来高铁只可能比110英里/小时的内燃电力城际列车速度稍快,而不会是速度两倍于它的“超速静音”电力特快列车。
这里的few more ，而不是few more than，所以认为应翻成“只是多一些110英里/小时的内燃电力城际列车”
你理解的不错，应该翻译成＂美国的高铁可能更象是一些时速110英里/小时的内燃电力城际列车＂
这里我还是觉得 a few more是形容这个trains，是指多一些这种列车，而不是“更像”的意思。
同意你的理解
a few more 理解为"又多了些" e.g a few more minutes：再多几分钟
"只是多了些110英里/小时的内燃电力城际列车而已"
The railways are seeking tax breaks and other subsidies to reduce the cost of complying.
为了减少因遵从法案造成的费用损失，铁路正积极寻求税赋减免和其它募捐资金。
这里的蓝色部分翻得很准确到位，也很符合中文的习惯，非常佩服！但是subsidy这里不是很准确，一般来说，它是指政府补助，而且从语境来讲，也应指从政府得到的补贴，而不是募捐的资金。事实上，由于遵从法案而靠成费用损失，由政府来补贴，也更合理一些。在美国，法律制度的健全和实行，都是需要大量的资金来支撑，补贴是其中一个方式.
“wise regulators who will provide certainty about allowable returns so that we can confidently make the huge investments required to maintain, replace and expand the plant.”
“开明的管理者能提供可靠的免税回报额，让我们更有信心去筹措足够的资金来维护，更换和扩充电网设施。”
这里翻译有些问题，讲是说需要开明的管理者能通过regulation(规范) 来保证投资者有可靠的回报，而并非由管理者本身提供免税回报。
The railroads are also concerned ......how new capacity created with the federal funds will be allocated between passenger and freight traffic.
原译：铁路公司同时关心掌握最终决断权的联邦政府将如何将联邦基金合理分配给客运列车和铁路运输以创造新的运输能力。
这里说的分配应该是分配用联邦基金创造出的运输能力，而不是分配联邦基金。
文章够长，LZ辛苦了...
The railroads are also concerned ......how new capacity created with the federal funds will be allocated between passenger and freight traffic.
原译：铁路公司同时关心掌握最终决断权的联邦政府将如何将联邦基金合理分配给客运列车和铁路运输以创造新的运输能力。
这里说的分配应该是分配用联邦基金创造出的运输能力，而不是分配联邦基金。
文章够长，LZ辛苦了...
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