Ritz was right, so far

[bucket]

Well until someone in government grows a set or understands joint running rights.

Or implements the equivalent of the surface transportation board in canada where ****er harrison can not tell them to **** off.

[farmaholic]

I truly believe both sides are so far apart it will take a long time to slowly move toward something workable.

The RRs proabably want no regulation and grain shippers want service, but at what cost? To the point of choking the grain industry? Because without regulation and relying on only "commercial contracts(at who knows what "negotiated"COST)" I see the grain industry getting squeezed to much. There is no ****ing competition and won't be any any time soon. So what does that really leave us with?

[Hopalong]

Not saying position of present Ag minister on CTA review is much different to Ritz on Compas, both reviews ordered by previous governments.
Reluctance to make change coming from growers, graincos and others makes it more difficult for them.
Only have to look at comments on this forum to start believing that change will not be supported by voters.

[bucket]

Then why keep ordering up reviews if no one acts on them other than to give someone a job for a while.

And always at the end of a term when they know ****ing well the next minister will not act on it.

[farmaholic]

Hoppy, you keep trying to resuscitate this terminally ill issue that seems to have no chance of survival or resolution.

What would you like to see?

What level of regulation would you like to see? Zero to full or somewhere in between.

Nationalization.

Joint and open running rights.

Fully commercial arrangements.

Here is a revelation(not really). ....unfortunately I still have to pay for the inefficiencies in the system. As far as I'm concerned now that we are fully in an open market, once my grain passes through the grates it is someone elses... but when things get ****ed up we still pay.

Maybe the commercial agreements are actually between the Handlers and Transporters, but ultimately its primary producer's hides that will get tanned. Maybe until the actual owner of the grain, Grain Cos, can get retribution from the source of the problem nothing will change.

How the **** has this become our problem in the open market!!!!!

[bucket]

Because there isn't an open market on the railways side.

Cars should be bid for. If the railway doesn't deliver then the demurage at the coast is the railways dime.

There is a revelation.

[Hopalong]

See a couple of bucket's suggestions on right track (no pun).
Cars should be bid for, does this mean shippers would pay whatever they thought it worth to get them when they want?
Emerson review recommends giving CTA as much and even bigger role than United States surface transportation board over railway monopoly powers. Would this be accepted as a trade off for changes or end to MRE?
On other suggestion that we stop discussing the subject, think that is about the worst thing to do.
Think Richard Gray exaggerates direct farmer losses from 2014 shipping problem but it may cost us even more from lost customer confidence and our inability to supply markets in the future.

[farmaholic]

If someone can guarantee Primary Producers wont be the ones paying for the inefficiencies of the system go ahead and remove the MRE.

It will be easier for the Handlers to recoup any loses for poor RR service from the source they buy their grain from than the customer they sell to. Easier to pay less(to producers)in future deals than ask for more money(from buyers) in future sales when the Buyer can shop the world and not pay for a dysfunctional system.

How will we be protected

I also think Bucket is right when he continually brings up a true costing review. A lot has changed, maybe endless years of rubber stamped increases in the rate cap formula need to be assessed.

[bucket]

Ignore my post if shows up I hit the wrong button. My thoughts are not complete and was starting over but ****ed up.

[tweety]

Even a willing government can't make a change. The previous gov was willing, they just legally couldn't do a single thing.

Bucket, no matter how much you type, it won't change the fact there will be no change. The lawyers will always win.

[Hopalong]

Another question for bucket and farma, would CTA also do costing reviews on rail shipping of other commodities?
Would prefer continent wide policy that applies to all railways but see difficulty in getting politicians on both sides of border to co-operate.

[bucket]

Hopalong

I have always thought there should be a north American solution to move resources like railcars around to where they are needed.

Different harvest windows would allow it. And getting access to the Mississippi would be possible.

But it would take joint running and lower interswitching costs.

Government intervention would be required because none of railways are looking out for the economy. Even though their profits might soar with more freight to move.

As far as the cta being involved I still question why 100 tonne capacity railcar would have a different rate for different commodities.

A unit trains of potash is the same pull as a unit train of canola wheat or lentils ....all around 10000 tonnes.