BNSF realizes rail is important to USA recovery! Here not so much!

[SASKFARMER3]

See one thing that's different from the USA and Canada! Buffet realizes that the only way the usa can get back to number one is build at home USA made and then ship to the world like they use to. So he is putting billions into the BNSF. Upgrade, double lines and stream line. So when the USA needs to get their goods to the world the infrastructure is their to handle it.
Vision from a billionaire for the good of his own country. Yes if he succeeds he will make billions but big deal its look at the big picture.
In Canada their is lots of talk like 25 by 2025. Or wheat yields are going up with great new seed rules so trend line will increase.
Well if our infrastructure doesn't get their shit together we will be destroyed again every time we have a bumper.
Oil, gas, fert, lumber, pipe, steel, copper, etc all need to go places tough when a 1940 rail system is in place.
I guess the infrastructure is like a farmer that sold out years ago, runs his dad's equipment and same size farm till everything was worn right out then quit. You acomplished so much.
One country has a guy with vision, he will make. Money also. Here we have no vision and will continue to bleed some till it's all scrap.
Ah farming!

[bucket]

The USA will have a first class rail system. The Mississippi.

Canada might as well be seeded back to grass and just do a round up once a year.

That's how far behind we will be.

[agstar77]

If there was vision why could there not be a government private initiative to double track a line across Western Canada ? We are stuck with Rail forever so why not go for it?

[agstar77]

Of course there would have to be open running rights like the Trans Canada Highway.

[bucket]

Vision on the railways from the conservatives equals what's the easiest way to get a position on the board.

[fjlip]

Sask Chamber of commerce and Conference Board of Canada report on Rail released yesterday...
http://www.saskchamber.com/default.aspx?page=128

[bucket]

They mention they don't know the size of on farm storage. What about commercial storage.

On farm storage doesn't put grain in a better position for shipping.

Makes for an easy job for grainco marketing reps. And pretty snow fence.

[Rareearth]

Picture this:
- the transcanada highway, as a single lane road, ( similar to a dirt or gravel road in rural Canada)
- when there is no traffic, you cruise at what ever speed is comfortable or safe
- if another vehicle comes along, both vehicles slow, move over and safely pass each other
- now if there are big vehicles ( say combines at harvest or loaded semis running in the spring road ban season) you must turn off the road completely or no one goes any where till some one budges ( it happens). Not unlike one train going east and one going west some one has to stop and move over to pass
-early highways were built wider with dividing lines to separate and facilitate traffic flow
- traffic flows increased, safety issues were ever increasing
- now some lunatics, at astronomical cost, came up with the idea of building divided highways with two lanes on each side. 4 flicking lanes, unbelievable.
- no toll booths or gates

Are there similarities or parallels with the current rail freight system?

No lunatics?

[Rareearth]

Just a question.

Is there more steel(weight or actual metal) in heavy gauge rail or more steel in a 36 inch oil pipe?

It's gotta be cheaper to build on top of the ground vs digging it in?

[Hopalong]

Have watched both CN and CP mainlines on occasion.
Seem to run trains in same direction as little as twenty minutes apart on single track sections for several hours.
Wonder what amount of double tracking reaches the point where it is not very helpful.

[wmoebis]

Would the east bound lanes need to be as heavy to haul back empties and east bound loads could be lighter in more cars. Could use up all the light rail if there is any left around.