General Discussion

Not enough business.  Capacity would be found if there were.

RWM

I think I understand the arguments about why it is more efficient to go through Chicago rather than bypass it.  Obviously, I have no business disagreeing with them.

But, what about chemicals and political pressure to take hazardous chemicals out of the cities?  Would that create more incentive for at least "a" Chicago bypass, like the Kankakee Belt or TPW?  I am following the UP case regarding their refusal to ship certain hazardous chemicals with some interest--although without a real opinion.  It just occurs to me that the same stresses that would cause a railroad to refuse to haul certain freight at any price would also cause the railroad to want to avoid major metropolitan areas like Chicago, were they forced to haul it.

Gabe

Gabe:  An interesting idea, but it is radioactive for many reasons.  I do not think we will ever see railways independently proposing to designate certain corridors as hazmat-heavy for all the difficulties it creates with the common-carrier obligation, liability, and local politics.  Following an accident and casualty on such a hazmat-heavy line, it creates a "but for" argument for the plaintiff's attorney.

USDOT may choose to do such a thing, but I am not seeing either the science or politics as being supportive of such a policy. 

RWM

gabe:

I am following the UP case regarding their refusal to ship certain hazardous chemicals with some interest--although without a real opinion. 

Gabe,

I think the real real issue in the UP case I know about, which is chlorine from Utah, is rates.  Once in a while the UP gets very inventive and I think this is one of them.  Their claim is that the consignee has access to Chlorine from the Gulf Coast which would involve substantially fewer car miles.  I don't understand why UP is making this move as I think it is more likely to blow up in their face, since it tends to support the NIMBYs and those who think the railroad system works like the highway system.

Many years ago when I was with the Bureau of Explosives, the AAR got Congress to preempt local routing bans and regulations.  The industry would be wiser to guard that closely than to open any *** in that armor.  For the same reason I would not advocate heavy hazmat routes anywhere. 

Mac

Is it normal for trailers and containers to be trucked from one intermodal facility to another when interchanging between railroads?

Jeff

"Rubbering" is commonplace in Chicago for interchange between railways, but uncommon everywhere else.  That's because the other gateway cities are all much smaller in volume and in complexity, compared to Chicago, so steel-wheel is simple there.

Rubbering is also commonplace at the major ports, to move containers between the ports and the rail terminals.

RWM