Eastern Railroad Discussion > CN CEO spending BIG on everything

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-23/cn-rail-speeds-investment-as-new-ceo-rushes-to-ease-congestion



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/23/18 10:52 by elu34ch.

So how much of the new double-track and sidings were tracks that had been pulled up in recent history?

Victor A. Baird
http://www.erstwhilepublications.com

As a long time Q / BN trainmaster told me: "The company would tear out a siding
and say the removal would save X number of dollars a year in maintenance. A few years later they
would put the siding back in and say the capacity improvement would save X number
of dollars per year".

No surprise that EHH hurt the railroad in search of short term profit.

Q: in the CN Q1 earnings call transcript, it was stated that ~$150M of line sales in the eastern part of the CN network was closed this month. What lines were these? Thanks.

Englewood Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> As a long time Q / BN trainmaster told me: "The
> company would tear out a siding
> and say the removal would save X number of dollars
> a year in maintenance. A few years later they
> would put the siding back in and say the capacity
> improvement would save X number
> of dollars per year".
>

B&O tore out the second main track across Indiana in the 60s. It was a disaster (that saved money for the signal and track department)...and CSX finally had to put it back at probably a lot greater cost than had it been left in place.

TAW

wabash2800 Wrote:
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> So how much of the new double-track and sidings
> were tracks that had been pulled up in recent
> history?
>
> Victor A. Baird
> http://www.erstwhilepublications.com

I was hoping someone more knowledgeable of the specifics would respond, but I know that the work being done in Wisconsin is on the former CStPM&O/WC which was never, as far as I know, double track. This was a secondary main route until it became part of CN's Western Canada to Chicago route (a CN planner estimated that traffic from Western Canada splits about 60/40 at Winnipeg with the majority now going DWP/WC to Chicago). As for the capacity projects west of Winnipeg, I don't think that was ever double track either but someone can correct me. I was not an EHH fan but I'm afraid we can't blame this on something he did.

Gordon

There was double track on both sides of Jasper, Alberta, that was pulled up.

Edited to clarify that part of the double track in that area was pulled up.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/24/18 08:20 by Jimbo.

I have long worried about the ex NYC Line on CSX between Terre Haute and Mt. Victory, OH. All 2MT. However, these long-a$$ trains just might save it.

I often wonder if PSR takes into acct. train delays for lack of capacity. I don't see a lot of high level math going into this.

Despite velocity measurements....speed doesn't matter...just so long as it moves.

He pulled up DT on GTW and CN in eastern Canada, too. And tried closing Symington hump more than once. CN is still trying to dig out from his corporate vulture capitalist Fascist austerity business plan! He sucked, I know, I was there.

Posted from Android

engineerinvirginia Wrote:
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> Despite velocity measurements....speed doesn't
> matter...just so long as it moves.

Yes, although some shippers PAY for increased velocity, and usually get it. I'm thinking of UPS and its special services.

Ultimately, having consistent and reliable speeds and delivery times should be a selling point. Worth money to a shipper