Final answer:
If a purchaser cannot get a railcar from the railway or doesn't have their own rail equipment, they can arrange for an interswitching service, share services with another shipper, or use another mode of transportation.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a purchaser of railway services cannot get a railcar from the railway, or does not have her/his own rail equipment, they will likely have to:
- Arrange for an interswitching service: This is a service provided by railways where they switch railcars between different rail carriers.
- Share services with another shipper that uses rail: In this case, the purchaser can collaborate with another shipper who has rail equipment and share the services.
- Use another mode: If the purchaser cannot access rail services, they can opt for a different mode of transportation, such as road or air.
These options provide alternative solutions when railcar availability is limited or not possible.