"but in order to profit to the fullest extent the RAIL must be first."
Cashin, I do not see the logic of First.
The rail provides cheepest transportation no doubt, but why does it need to be first?
Whether it comes sooner or later should have no impact on profitability if chromite is the
subject because chromite will not move on roads. I am convinced of that, are you?. Cliffs is just throwing smoke for now at the road vs rail topic. They have their own agenda, Lol.

As for Noront's nickel ore, road provides higher transportation cost but sooner delivery.
Rail does the opposite for both, so you trade off time vs cost and time has it's own costs.
So for nickel ore I say it makes little difference at the start and later once the railway
is in place the processed nickel ore would go by rail. No need to dwell further.

I am of opposite bent, road needs to be first, partly for political reasons because it is
not just about the miners but for the whole region. Rail way mostly serves the miners but only a few of the natives.

The road should ease railway construction. E/W route not as helpful as the N/S as far as
actual railway construction because N/S would most likely be right beside the rail path.

I am betting on E/W road first and rail later. No N/S road, well maybe much later to service rail.

Ed.