Monthly railcar loadings

[bucket]

Tasfarms

New one just announced today. Melfort to birch hills - northern lights railway..

Funded by the province.

Wish the province would just force railways to do their job.

[TOM4CWB]

Farming 101,

Why are we operating at "maximum capacity"?

Hunter is primarily responsible... " in 1998, Harrison was appointed Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer by CN. Upon the retirement of Paul Tellier, he was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of CN on January 1, 2003, serving in that position until his retirement on December 31, 2009."

Then in 2012 he took over as CEO of CP.

On railbed infrastructure:

"Years ago I remember the federal government announcing double tracking in western Canada at huge expense. It was a MAJOR initiative.

Well, a few weeks ago I was talking with a former rail company employee and he said something astounding to me. That some of that double tracking was ripped up and the rails sold off.

I presume that IF this is true that the company was counting on computerized dispatch to better control the logistics and so it was deemed that the double tracking wasn't necessary. However, now I'm hearing of grain shipment problems due to transport logistics. If so, that likely means cost increases are on the horizon for our economy.

Either way, if double tracking was reduced, that act seems like a major short-sighted action and a slap in the face to those with foresight to build out major infrastructure for the long run.

Any thoughts or knowledge on this?"

SO who was responsible for ripping out millions of $$$ taxpayers invested in the CN railbed???

"CN Rail rips out line on double track near Jasper
Oct. 18th, 2001 by Adrian Ewins
excerpt:

"Railway track that was laid 20 years ago to help move grain to west coast ports more efficiently is being torn up by Canadian National Railway.

The company is removing 64 kilometres of double-tracked line from its main line ...

“It will have no effect at all on our ability to handle traffic to the West Coast, including grain,” said CN spokesperson Jim Feeny.

The track being torn up represents about 16 percent of the roughly 400 kilometres that were double-tracked between Edmonton and Vancouver in the late 1970s and early 1980s.""

There was also double track in the Saskatoon area that was laid down in the 90's I believe. The story goes that not one train used the track before it was ripped up. Just this year, they've been relaying that track in Saskatoon to double track the line again. Also, in my old stomping grounds near London, Ontario, they ripped up double track mainline (CN's mainline between Chicago and Toronto).

As far as I've been told, all of this track was ripped up under Hunter Harrison's reign at CN. He was very short-sighted, which makes me a little worried about CP's future. Make a quick buck now, but sacrifice much needed capacity for tomorrow.

Also, another interesting tidbit about the Jasper double track. Apparently CN asked Parks Canada if they can put the double track back in. And they said no..."
Excerpt:

CN Rail rips out line on double track near Jasper
Posted Oct. 18th, 2001 by Adrian Ewins

"Railway track that was laid 20 years ago to help move grain to west coast ports more efficiently is being torn up by Canadian National Railway. ..."

“It will have no effect at all on our ability to handle traffic to the West Coast, including grain,” said CN spokesperson Jim Feeny."

...
"The double tracking was laid to ease congestion..."

“There’s a fewer number of trains running on the track at once, so they... “Trains aren’t competing for track.”

...

“It seems extremely shortsighted,” he said. ..."

“...ripping up double track that was put in at the expense of taxpayers to send that to shareholders as well, seems really illegitimate and shortsighted,” he said."

http://www.producer.com/2001/10/cn-r...k-near-jasper/


http://www.connect2edmonton.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=34590

[bucket]

And probably happened while politicians elected by farmers and were farmers themselves sat in Ottawa in meetings being stupid.

As I said before politicians are incompetent and don't give a shit.

They have known about these problems for decades. Same players just refuse to do SFA.

And yes I am talking about anderson ritz hermanson goodale and any other lurker in government doing sweet **** all.

[farming101]

Tom, accurate as far as I know.

Ripping up track only 20 years old doesn't seem reasonable. Shortsighted yes.

[farming101]

Some CPR history and some references to double tracking in the first section under Canadian Pacific and Rogers Pass.



<a title="CPR" href="http://www.okthepk.ca/dataCprSiding/articles/200502/pass00.htm">CPR</a>

[wmoebis]

What # of total cars are there now? Anywhere we can find # available weekly. Cars loaded in transit cars at port waiting to be unloaded and cars in transit empty?
Just seems to me each elev ordering more cars than actually available.

[farming101]

An interesting article.

Caution: written by CP

<a title="CPR infrastructure" href=" http://www.gateway-corridor.com/roundconfpapers/documents/Cairns_Malcolm_Winnipeg.pdf">CPR infrastructure</a>

[bucket]

Plants with 100000 tonne capacity should have at a minimum a train a week.

They are missing there trains - the system is not working.

[cottonpicken]

I've been to pissed of to follow most of this so hope I'm not plagerizing or got facts wrong

How long has the market been in backwardization who benefits. Buying at a futures price and selling at cash went it is like this is pretty sweet deal

[westernvicki]

The issue is grain. The graph is ONLY RELEVANT as it relates to grain traffic. Oil has always moved more smoothly or the crushers would not run.

This graph offer nothing to the debate.

[westernvicki]

And if we want to add more dimension to the issue of traffic, power and what the rail can do: add the crude oil graph it is especially pertinent in 2013.

Yes they supplied their own railcars, but if you said to commodities supply your own cars and we will give you better service.. I am going to bet the industry would respond. My guess is the amount of demurrage paid of cars would adequately lease a few cars a year.

[farming101]

Westernvicki, you cannot chart all issues related to bad freight service for grain in one chart. Anything specifically aside from a crude oil chart (in the oil price thread) you would like to see?
I will remember to add "for what it's worth" to posts from now on. Thanks.

[bucket]

Farming101

Could you look forward and add in additional potash trains?

Government officials can't seem to grasp it. Companies are booking more capacity that at this point isn't there?

It's very frustrating to look at things today and quickly see we have missed many opportunities to ensure exports move efficiently. More frustrating is that people elected that had hard numbers before any of us dumb farmers and they studied it many times - did nothing to improve it.

And then you realize any changes require governments to act with legislation.

They do nothing. That's when you realize MPs get paid for silence, incompetence, and dog****ing into a gold plated pension.

[farming101]

Bucket, I'll watch for info-potash going forward.
Here's another chart.
&lt;a href=&quot;http://photobucket.com/&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc421/farming101/Oil%20Potash_zpse8yesxrq.jpg&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; alt=&quot; photo Oil Potash_zpse8yesxrq.jpg&quot;/&gt;&lt;/a&gt;

[bucket]

That one major dip in potash came at a contract negotiations. ?

And they are well stored at both ends to allow for slight up and downs.