Special weather statement..

[TOM4CWB]

Bucket,

I don't get it.

The Hoppercars... ARE working for grain growers right now in western Canada!

If Minister Ritz had given them to the Farmer Rail Car Coalition... our freight would not have gone down $2.20/t... like Minister Ritz accomplished... because the FRCC was going to use that money to buy the Hopper cars after 10 years.

The Railways do NOT own the rail cars now. Nor do the Grainco's. As soon as someone else buys the gov/CWB grain cars... the freight rate to export position goes UP close to $10/t!!!

It looks to me you folks have this backwards... Minister Ritz did the best possible to keep our freight rates down... as he actually lowered our cost base going forward, now in effect... from 2007-08 that $2.20/t into the future.

[bucket]

So if we go to a commercialized system like the people that want rid of the revenue cap - our freight rates go up 10 bucks a tonne?

And better service?

Sounds like a winning idea to me.

[TOM4CWB]

"but he will give them to railways."

Why do you say this?

The facts are the reverse... Minister did not sell the grain hopper cars as the contract in place states the gov. must... if they are sold to anyone.... the Railways have first right of refusal without compensation for the lost revenue the railways could be entitled to under the existing contracts in place.

[TOM4CWB]

Bucket... the 'grain profit cap'... is totally aside from the gov. Hopper cars.

Commercial cost for additional hopper cars are added to the cost base (grain profit cap'... if those become additional costs are incurred by the Railways... my understanding is.

[cottonpicken]

model


https://scontent-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/t31.0-8/11082366_427295400785863_4001358364983985995_o.jpg

[farmaholic]

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1166.photobucket.com/albums/q605/yip2/weather%20model.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo weather model.jpg"/></a>

I prefer this model...

[sawfly]

why do the railways have first right of refusal?
who signed that agreement and why?
why do the rr.s have any say on govt. or board owned cars?

very complicated

[furrowtickler]

Regardless of he word play , why are some locations receiving great rail service - all winter - right beside ones that can't get cars and blame railways ??????? There is far more going on than just rail service - that's a fact

[TOM4CWB]

Sawfly,

Quite likely the contracts were made when the gov. cars were purchased...Before of during Goodale's reign... the railways were supposed to maintain them and keep them current. Somehow the cars became cash cows instead... we are being played for every last cent the RR monopoly can milk out of us...