CTA transport review

[Rareearth]

The railway .... Situation would have resulted with the the CWB or as we have seen with out the CWB, timing. To prove this point the USA has exactly the same lack of service interest on there side as we have on our Canadian side.

It might be interesting with the huge USA crops (northern states) if their freight starts to move across the boarder to Canada then to export position. It has happened before. And like last year it is very difficult to determine crop size until the combines roll, last year much better than expected and this year the opposite, much less than anticipated. Forecasting is like predicting the weather.

[farmaholic]

We swung for the fences pre and post CWB monopoly.... I hardly think the demise of the board had ANYTHING to do with last years bumper, you can thank Mother Nature for that just like you can curse her for the dismal yields and quality this year. WOW.....

[farmaholic]

We swung for the fences pre and post CWB monopoly.... I hardly think the demise of the board had ANYTHING to do with last years bumper, you can thank Mother Nature for that just like you can curse her for the dismal yields and quality this year. WOW.....

[rockpile]

Interesting to observe all of the interventionist proposals coming from so called open marketers. RR performance has been studied ad nauseam since 1972 when I started farming as a career and always the same result - not much changes except our costs go up and a bunch of people come away slapping each other on the back for a "job well done". I was involved in one of these studies in the late 80's and my take away was that CN and CP have a much more effective lobby than we do.
So call a spade a spade - one way or another you are asking for nationalization of the RR's as opposed to a market solution. BTW, nothing stopping joint running rights - it's up to the RR's to negotiate their own agreements. Case in point - Louis-Dreyfus at Lyalta. CN line, CP service. As far as twinning lines, there has been a lot of passing lanes built over the last twenty years. But at nearly a million bucks a mile, full scale double tracking could cost users a whole pile of money.
So what is it you are actually asking for? Go ahead - be brave - say it out loud.

[westernvicki]

The railway is an private oligopoly with a public responsibility.

Or

The railway is a private oligopoly with no public responsibility beyond shareholders.

Which way is it, or is there another?

[rockpile]

Vicki, I'll throw out an idea I suggested in 1988 to the Deputy Minister of Transportation for the Federal Govt. I suggested the two RR's amalgamate and then operate as a utility with a regulated rate of return (ROI) and a regulated service expectation. It's how our electricity markets worked at the time in Alberta. And we had the cheapest power prices in N.A. and outstanding service. Today, our electricity market is deregulated (read re-regulated) and it's an expensive shit show. As for my suggestion, well, I was laughed out of the room.

[parsley]

Isn't that odd CptnObvious, that I have been so out of the loop by thinking that the CWB is still in existence, is still picking up tax dollars, and is still enjoying lobbying to its' own private Minister, and Ministerial staff, and is still buying grain and is still selling grain. Bloody lying media.

My, thanks for telling me it was destroyed. I'll be sure to pass on your news. Pars.

[sumdumguy]

Bucket, I am with you on this one for sure and Vicki, that is the question isn't it? Is the railway responsible to the shipping public, primarily grains or has its responsibility shifted to shareholders alone ; and allowed to make this shift under the last few administrations?

[westernvicki]

We have a litany of ideas laughed out of the room in Canada, and a failure to deal with the plausible and the possible.

It is my opinion that the einter of 2013 was a crisis of private management of the railroad resource. I believe it was a turning point for government knowing that the majority of industry (VOTERS TAXPAYERS) will no longer accept a government that caters to lobbyists at the expense of the economy.

And yes it will all depend upon our ability to take the CRISIS of 2013 and demand process which insures that opportunity for the future is based upon the recognition of the relationship of a client (importer/exporter) and service provider(S) created: the railroads, ports and logistics network.

[westernvicki]

Sumdumbguy, Sumdumbgirls thinks so, but I believe we had to hit the wall to read the writing on the wall. Ministers' facing personally the embarrassing complaints from the world buyers everywhere about incredibly late vessels let alone container shipments failing to arrive to realize the magnitude of the problem.

Our job , this time is to insure this is not a fix of half measures.

[bucket]

The idea of twinning the lines is more to accommodate the increase in all exportable commodities not just grain. As we move forward with additional potash mines and the like the idea can't be ignored because it's too expensive.

Look at Brazil, surely we should pace ourselves ahead if them.

[sumdumguy]

Vicki, as long as this government can keep us out of this loop I am afraid there is no way for us to be sure that we will not see a replay of 2013. Murad has the intestinal fortitude to exert some pressure, no doubt in my mind, but I wonder about the backlash that may play out against operations that depend on rail for their existence.

[TOM4CWB]

I said it at the Federal/Provincial Ministers Transportation review table in Calgary in March:

We must have ANOTHER western Route for rail freight to the west coast... through the Mighty Peace River area ... to the Rupert Port ... direct. I was told the mountains were too big. Ha.

Long term vision, innovation, and competition requires multiple backup redundant options... for when the unexpected bites at us.

Just a thought...

[OneOfMany]

Once again, there are reasons why "land is so much cheaper here compared to the rest of the world"

[MBgrower]

Bucket, not sure if i missed this, but the grain cos need to report weekly grain purchases by grain and class. No more bullshat that they are covered on sales 6 months out and widen out basis. Weekly reporting will ensure we know what farmers are selling and keep the grainco families honest.