"There is no debate. Whether a railroad is built or not, the road still has to be built first."
Right on. But there is no debate except where the politicians and the media are involved. We here have known for a long while of that truth.
Roads also represent convenience for the region, not just for the miners.

Railways on the other hand are for least expensive transport in bulk from one point to the next. I am not basing that opinion on any solid fact but on hear say and a gut feeling.

Leading from that feeling, the railway has to and will be built. The chromite ore will not move in any sizable quantity without it. This is in spite what Cliffs says of late.

I see Cliffs statement along the same line as Noront did with their slurry pipe. It is a stop gap measure in case all else fails. That means IF cliffs does not get to use a rail line over KWG claims.

Finally:
'I do not need your road/railway as badly as you think. I have an alternative' (Noront's pipe, Cliffs railway.) An argument point when push comes to shove.