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[quote]QUOTE: Originally posted by TomDiehl [quote]QUOTE: Originally posted by futuremodal [quote]QUOTE: Originally posted by NS2317 I think the most interesting part of the article states how shippers where caught putting their eggs in one basket by using the trucking industry. After November when a rockslide closed Snoqualmie Pass traffic, they suddenly realized the importance of rail as an "alternative" solution. Now they want to suddenly hype BNSF's response as unreasonable. Sounds to me as if BNSF felt like they were being treated as some kind of transportation "safety valve" when shippers are caught with their pants down. Anyway, they said they needed 4 day service. That is 96 hours. BNSF came back with a quote of 100hrs or 4.16 days. That's a 4 hour difference. Granted, produce is a time sensitive commodity, but come on. Especially when the stuff is probably taking the slow boat to China, anyway? There has to be more than meets the eyes here. [/quote] NS2317, I admit it is sometimes hard to discern what these reporters are trying to say, and I do wish such articles would be put out by professional transportation writers rather than these cub reporters, but that being said.... I believe the "4 day service" in the article refers to rail service being made available every four days e.g. that would be a four day cycle for a dedicated train, two days over and two days back. I think 48 hours is about the minimum time produce shippers can accept before their stuff is subject to rejection dockside. That being said, is there any reason a dedicated train can't run on a 30 hour cycle time on such a short corridor? It's close to being a single crew district between Quincy and Seattle, why can't these trains run 10 hours over, 10 hours to unload the outbound containers and reload the empties, and 10 hours back? 10 hours between Quincy and Seattle is only 20 miles per hour in transit time, less than the standard 25 mph *required*[}:)] by the Class I's. [/quote] The article seems quite clear to everybody else reading it. Sorry it doesn't fit the agenda of your "non-vendetta." Twice a week would be an average of 3-1/2 days between trains. One train every four days would be even less often. Not following the math here. [/quote] The article mentions BNSF's desire for a "100 hour" window for delivery to Tacoma from Quincy. That means the cycle time is about 8 days. The produce shippers need a 4 day cycle maximum, otherwise the service is useless to them.
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