Trains.com

News Wire: CN, CP to argue Chicago interchange dispute before federal regulators

1256 views
8 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
Moderator
  • Member since
    January 2011
  • From: Wisconsin
  • 1,532 posts
Posted by Brian Schmidt on Monday, July 22, 2019 10:21 AM

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has ordered Canadian National and Canadian Pacific to participate in oral arguments next month to settle their simmering dispute over the location of their interchange in Chicago. In a decision lat...

http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2019/07/22-cn-cp-to-argue-chicago-interchange-dispute-before-federal-regulators

Brian Schmidt, Editor, Classic Trains magazine

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Guelph, Ontario
  • 4,790 posts
Posted by Ulrich on Monday, July 22, 2019 12:37 PM

Rather disappointing that the carriers can't resolve this issue without involving the STB on the taxpayers' dime. 

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Allentown, PA
  • 9,810 posts
Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Monday, July 22, 2019 8:24 PM

There may be filing fees - how did this dispute get to the STB in the first place?  Or, the STB may be able to assess costs against both parties or the loser to defray (at least in part) its expenses.  

In the grand scheme of things, a handful of STB members (however many are serving now) and the staff is not much different from any appellate court, of which there are hundreds of equivalents in the US and probably several dozen in Canada.  Probably a few tenths of a penny per capita in the US ($0.001 would be about $350,000).  Really, just another cost of running a government.  Pales against the cost of the rest of the DOT, or FAA, or FHWA, etc.

- PDN.  

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Guelph, Ontario
  • 4,790 posts
Posted by Ulrich on Monday, July 22, 2019 9:17 PM

Perhaps so, but add up all those little costs and before too long you’ve got yourself a 400 billion dollar debt.. that’s exactly what were facing here in Ontario. I wish someone would come forth and announce that we’ve secretly been tunneling to the center of the Earth.. at least then it would make more sense. As it is we’ve managed to accumulate the largest debt of any subnational jurisdiction anywhere in the world.. and all because those little costs add up fast, and we really have nothing to show for it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    June 2019
  • 313 posts
Posted by Juniata Man on Tuesday, July 23, 2019 7:27 AM

Lest we forget; railroads are tax payers too.

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: NW Wisconsin
  • 3,857 posts
Posted by beaulieu on Wednesday, July 24, 2019 2:37 PM

The current interchange location is nearby to CP's Bensenville Yard. By moving the interchange to CN's Kirk Yard, convenient for CN, it will likely require two crews for CP to complete one round trip, greatly increasing CP's costs and reducing CN's costs to minimal amount. There is a lot of CP to CN interchange at this location, but not so much the other way round.

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 24,932 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, July 24, 2019 4:12 PM

beaulieu
The current interchange location is nearby to CP's Bensenville Yard. By moving the interchange to CN's Kirk Yard, convenient for CN, it will likely require two crews for CP to complete one round trip, greatly increasing CP's costs and reducing CN's costs to minimal amount. There is a lot of CP to CN interchange at this location, but not so much the other way round.

Simple - CP hauls the interchange to Kirk with CN power and CP Crew.  CN hauls their interchange to Bensenville with the CN power.  Crews taxi back to the starting points.  Both carriers get to screw each other.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    March 2018
  • 144 posts
Posted by Ed Kyle on Wednesday, July 24, 2019 9:16 PM

CN has proposed moving interchange to Clearing, at least on an interim basis, and CP has said it is ok with the idea of moving interchange to Clearing.  So, what's the hold up?  Fine details?

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 24,932 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, July 24, 2019 10:51 PM

Ed Kyle
CN has proposed moving interchange to Clearing, at least on an interim basis, and CP has said it is ok with the idea of moving interchange to Clearing.  So, what's the hold up?  Fine details?

Who pays what in moving things to Clearing - each wanting the other to pay.

It is always about money.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy