BNSF ending Fresno-Chicago Intermodal service

[BaltACD]

http://www.progressiverailroading.com/bnsf_railway/news/BNSF-to-discontinue-FresnotoChicago-intermodal-service-in-early-December--41864

 

What is the REAL underlying problem - operational congestion?  Insufficient loadings?

[AgentKid]

BaltACD

operational congestion?

I think I would take what BNSF said in the second paragraph of that story at their word. I had occasion to watch the Rochelle Webcam for much longer than I usually do this morning. At one point I was amazed to see two huge EB intermodal trains on the BNSF line spaced at most 20 minutes apart. BNSF has got some serious action going on.

I don't know if this a regular occurrence, but both UP and BNSF move a lot of intermodal in both directions past that camera.

Bruce

EDIT: The second train was made up of, I would guess, maybe 75% JB Hunt containers. I'm guessing they must be happy campers too.

[ChuckCobleigh]

AgentKid

EDIT: The second train was made up of, I would guess, maybe 75% JB Hunt containers. I'm guessing they must be happy campers too.

When I have a chance to watch mid-day for a while, I can count on at least one IM train in each direction on BNSF to be heavy J.B. Hunt, usually 100 or more containers.  That would also be true through Tehachapi when I get the chance to watch trains there.  (Travel tip: get a booth at the Village Grill where you can look out the front window for the show, or at the Apple Shed nearest the west windows.)

[ericsp]

A few years ago BNSF combined its Richmond and Empire terminals at the new Stockton terminal.

UP also closed its Fresno intermodal terminal not too long after taking over SP.

[K. P. Harrier]

Fresno is basically a city in an agricultural environment, so that wouldn’t likely produce much for Intermodal, hence, the closures.

[schlimm]

AgentKid

BaltACD

operational congestion?

I think I would take what BNSF said in the second paragraph of that story at their word. I had occasion to watch the Rochelle Webcam for much longer than I usually do this morning. At one point I was amazed to see two huge EB intermodal trains on the BNSF line spaced at most 20 minutes apart. BNSF has got some serious action going on.

I don't know if this a regular occurrence, but both UP and BNSF move a lot of intermodal in both directions past that camera.

Bruce

EDIT: The second train was made up of, I would guess, maybe 75% JB Hunt containers. I'm guessing they must be happy campers too.

The Rochelle cam would not show BNSF intermodal traffic from Fresno or anywhere in CA.  That line comes from the PNW.  The UP line goes to Oakland.

[Ulrich]

The headline to this story is misleading: there really is no service discontinuance. The article states that Fresno loads will henceforth be consolidated with loads out of LA to Chicago. That makes alot of sense to me. The end result will be better service to the folks in Fresno and lower costs to the railroad. 

CN did much the same thing with westbound traffic out of Montreal a decade ago by abandoning the Beechburg sub and routing all westbound traffic from Quebec and points east  through Toronto. 

[cx500]

No Ulrich, this is quite different.  What they are doing is closing the intermodal facility.  The shippers will now have to haul their containers or trailers on the highway to the next closest facility.  That may mean an extra two hours or more each way for the truck haul.

CN's abandonment of the Beachburg Sub just meant the existing trains took a new route.  Shippers still delivered the intermodal traffic at the same places.  Possibly the rail transit time may have become slightly longer but the more circuitous route was mitigated by faster track so the difference would be minimal.

[Ulrich]

My mistake then... my understanding was that the containers would simply be routed south to LA for furtherance to Chicago. Well... that's not really good development then. 

[jeffhergert]

Ulrich

My mistake then... my understanding was that the containers would simply be routed south to LA for furtherance to Chicago. Well... that's not really good development then. 

I think you were right the first time. 

I imagine the terminal doesn't originate/terminate train loads, but is served by through trains.  The amount of business probably doesn't justify the costs (money and time) for picking up or setting out blocks of cars.  With other terminals fairly close by, I would guess the Stockton terminal would gain the business, they might not lose any business.  If they do lose some, they evidently think it won't cost them too much in the long run.

Jeff

[BNSF_GP60M]

My step dad works for a trucking company. And when he used to do long haul he either visited Stockton or in San Bernardino. He didn't visit Fresno much, if not at all. Now he hauls for a company that has the dedicated BNSF perishable train.

[narig01]

Fresno had a lot of produce loads. The company I worked for sent produce from central coast there. Los Angeles is not a good load out for the central coast as you can not do a round trip in the same day.
Three years ago it was not uncommon for the rail division where I'd worked at to have a westbound load to Stockton go south for a load then have take the load to Fresno for the eastbound load. Then bobtail north to Stockton.
Rgds IGN

[greyhounds]

They are not ending intermodal service to the area.  They're just doing it differently and more efficiently.

Just watch and learn.  

[chutton01]

greyhounds

They are not ending intermodal service to the area.  They're just doing it differently and more efficiently.
Just watch and learn.

Sorry Greyhound, but that statement's just semantics if I'm reading the article correctly.

We have been working directly with our impacted customers to help facilitate the transition of their business to our intermodal facilities in Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Stockton," said BNSF spokesperson Amy Casas in an emailed statement

.

This I believe is the Fresno BSNF intermodal yard (Google Satellite)

That facility will be closing.

It seems to be 127 miles by road between Fresno & Stockon  (these distances may not be directly from Intermodal yard to intermodal yard).
It seems to be 271 miles by road between Fresno & San Bernardino.
It seems to be 218 miles by road between Fresno & Los Angeles (looks like Center city)
So, a shipper from Fresno & environs has to travel much further to make use of the remaining BSNF intermodal service

Sort of like saying "we're closing the Port Elizabeth intermodal yards, please use Reading PA instead (or in the case of LA/San Berno, please use Washington DC instead)

No need to watch and learn, that is the very definition of a service cut.

[jeffhergert]

That 127 to 271 mile distance probably doesn't amount to much for these intermodal loads.  I assume, like those using UP, most intermodal users are shipping 750 or more miles between intermodal facilities. 

It could be that some of the business out of Fresno has already shifted towards the other facilities.  The remaining level has just fallen to a level where it's not worth maintaining the facility.

Jeff 

[blue streak 1]

BaltACD

What is the REAL underlying problem - operational congestion?  Insufficient loadings?

 

Posts so far raise a host of questions.

1.  How seasonal is the traffic at the ramp ? Amount of traffic each week  ?

2.  Is the ramp facility to be closed permanently or just mothballed ?

3.  Did BNSF  have locos and wells / TOFC equipment sitting around for a long time ?  Loco shortage are well known. 

4.  Were trains too short or did they pick up other equipment en route slowing down transit times ?

5.  Were the destinations too diverse requiring an extra lift somewhere to consolidate with other connecting loads ?

6.  Train congestion that might allow for another longer train in its slot ? 

7.  Will this change actually increase traffic from the Fresno area ?

8.  Other questions ?

  

[greyhounds]

chutton01

.
Sorry Greyhound, but that statement's just semantics if I'm reading the article correctly.

.

Sort of like saying "we're closing the Port Elizabeth intermodal yards, please use Reading PA instead (or in the case of LA/San Berno, please use Washington DC instead)

No need to watch and learn, that is the very definition of a service cut.

Just watch and learn.   "The times, they are a changing."   For the better.  I'm going to keep my mouth shut for personal reasons.  But to anyone who can connect the dots "The Answer" has been given on this thread by other posters.