In 36 years in industrial transportation for grain, mining and chemical companies I have yet to see a railroad price per mile. In my experience I've seen pricing expressed per hundredweight; per ton (both long and short); and most commonly today, per carload.
While distance certainly plays a part in how a railroad constructs a rate it is not the overriding factor. What seems to determine railroad pricing levels more often than not is whether the traffic has competitive options. If the traffic is captive, best hold onto your wallet.
Curt
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