Brian Schmidt, Editor, Classic Trains magazine
That is pretty clear evidence (so far) that the doomsayers on here who repeatedly predicted that PSR would destroy CSX were simply wrong. But I am reasonably certain they will offer some explanation of how this report is fraudulent, such as "There are lies, damn lies and then statistics" or some other foolish slogan.
Smoke, mirrors, deferred maintenance.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
The concept of improving velocity and cutting dwell time predates EHH.
I agree with Disraeli (and Balt).
The old guy's been gone a year. How many of his PSR ideas have been quietly discarded in favor of smarter practices (instead of practices that move more money into the hands of the vultures - excuse me - investors...)
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
tree68 The concept of improving velocity and cutting dwell time predates EHH. I agree with Disraeli (and Balt). The old guy's been gone a year. How many of his PSR ideas have been quietly discarded in favor of smarter practices (instead of practices that move more money into the hands of the vultures - excuse me - investors...)
Didn't CSX re-open some of the hump yards that Hunter closed?
And re-institute helpers on the routes where he was having trains double hills?
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
Charlie Hebdo said: “That is pretty clear evidence (so far) that the doomsayers on here who repeatedly predicted that PSR would destroy CSX were simply wrong. But I am reasonably certain they will offer some explanation of how this report is fraudulent, such as "There are lies, damn lies and then statistics" or some other foolish slogan.”
A good friend’s daughter has really improved her times in track this year compared to last year, thanks to a new, amazing trainer. Oh, by the way, she was running on a hairline fracture last year. She is nowhere near the times she had before the fracture. But, dang, she sure is running faster than last year! The numbers don’t lie…they just don’t paint the whole picture.
I would offer up it is not clear evidence the doomsayers were wrong. Comparing yourself to the train wreck that EHH’s too-fast jump into PSR CSX created, to the degree that UP and BNSF were publicly complaining and notifying shippers of the mess on shipments continuing onto CSX, and being proud you are doing better than that, is smoke and mirrors. What will matter is sustained growth that, taking out coal, performs as well as or better yet out-performs the general economy and the growth trucking is seeing in rail-competitive lanes. My one and only insider source with a shortline operator on the East Coast (2 shortlines) tells me CSX is still a mess. I truly hope CSX gets its house in order: this industry cannot afford any of the major players suffering the a long-term play of what CSX did when they implemented PSR. That will accelerate conversion of freight to trucking.
It’s not about saying that the statistics are lies: it is about understanding what is being measured. In an extremely high capex industry like railroading, are the long-term investments being made that will support profits AND market share AND sustainable growth? Are long-term trends in supply chains being recognized and met? The report does not practically address those issues. I would hope a highly profitably industry with a shrinking market share is not the goal. Statistics in a year, NOT this year compared to last year, will tell us if CSX’s strategy is building for the future or simply allowing some very wise investors to take most of the money and run.
I can tell you this much a smaller outfit that we did not buy out at the end of last year that was smart enough to be running loads for UPS and Fed Ex between Chicago and Boston during the Holiday rush got a long term contract with Fed Ex to keep doing so. The owner of that company used that money to replace all his equipment boost his drivers pay and also grow his fleet. He has been told that he is going to see more business from Fed Ex for the forseable future due to PSR being implemented by major Class 1 railroads in the USA. When a major IM shipper starts to pull loads off trains because the railroads are failing service requirements maybe they need to look at why. Fed Ex does not do things like this lightly.
Remember EHH changed the traditional metrics that CSX had been reporting since its service problems following the ConRail aquisition to something of his own making. The only reason to do so is that the traditional numbers were horrid. His own metrics were glowing. Crap is still crap no matter how much perfume you pour on it.
Bruce D GillingsIt’s not about saying that the statistics are lies: it is about understanding what is being measured. In an extremely high capex industry like railroading, are the long-term investments being made that will profits AND market share AND sustainable growth?
I am certainly open to year over year comparisons of key statistics, such as average speed, terminal dwell times, cars on line, revenue and carloadings going back to 2010. Can you or someone provide them?
charlie hebdoCan you or someone provide them?
Here's a start: https://www.bts.gov/archive/publications/transportation_statistics_annual_report/2008/chapter_03/table_03_04_08
If you Google "terminal dwell time statistics" you'll find numbers from both the government and the railroads themselves, although presumably the government numbers came from the railroads...
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