http://www.coyoteblog.com/coyote_blog/2008/02/european-vs-am...
That's probably exactly why freight trains are faster in Europe:
> In fact, the freight rail system is so efficient that to some extent we've obviated the need for the Panama Canal. Many Asian container ships bound for Europe actually make port in Seattle or Vancouver, offload their containers onto trains which shoot across the country to New York or another eastern port where they are reloaded on ships for the trip to Europe.
Though I suspect soon enough the Northwest Passage will be clear for enough of the year that most freighters will just sail through the Arctic. Perhaps both Panama's government and North America's railroads should be pushing hard for a carbon tax.