possible mergers between class 1 railroads

[Anonymous]

Wanted to see if anyone else out there has heard about possible mergers between class 1 railroads. Financially, csx and ns are in need of help,just look at the stock.
Things are tried to be kept hush hush but word gets around quickly.What role do the bnsf and up play here and why has there been so much of their power on foreign lines?
Hope to hear from others on this subject. Maybe if we work together and communicate we will be able to better understand what is going on.

[espeefoamer]

Get your photos now![:(!]Before the whole nation turns YELLOW!![}:)] ."The devil made me buy this railroad."( Quote from UP management.)

[Anonymous]

I heard NS borrowed 1 billion $'s from BNSF and that BNSF wants to buy NS since they didn't give the $ back. Anyone else hear this?

[JoeKoh]

ns worker
well more rumors. Csx engine power is out west too.ns power was spotted in california.
the class 1's do not want another big merger now. Its nice to have you in the forums ns worker.if you work the old nyc line through Archbold I'll try to wave.
stay safe
Joe

[traingeek087]

I really hate to here about possible mergers. I think it's fine the way it is. BNSF, UP, CSX, NS, CN, CP. That's the way it should be. And not another paint scheme change. BNSF doesn't even have the whole fleet repainted to Heritage schemes and we get a merger and before you know it a new paint scheme is around. Well keep talk'n it's interesting and i'm listening.

[broncoman]

Hopefully you guys on the right hand coast can help out. I can I.D. most UPs motive power by sight, but there was what looked to be a CSX SD-70 except it had the open blower duct (the one that dumps out at walkway height). Is this a SD-70MAC UP dosen't have them. It looked like an ex Conrail unit. Hope you guys are staying warm.[8D]

Thanks from the sunny state!

[Anonymous]

I think THAT CN PLUS BNSF WILL HAPPEN IN OUR LIFE TIME

[broncoman]

Possibly as much as a UP-CP merger?

[kenneo]

There is a real need for more capacity. So, I suggest that we break up all the mergers back to the 1960's or so, put all their main lines back in and RAILROAD. VGN, the real NS (a short line that ran from Norfolk, VA, south into NC), ROCK, baby, ROCK, CMSt.P&P, ATSF, SDAE, SOU and on and on.

Won't happen. Ice cube would have a better chance of remaining an ice cube in a blast furnace. GRUMP.

[traingeek087]

I hear you there. I want the Chinese Red back! GRUMP?

[overall]

I have been told that, in the end, BNSF will absorb NS and UP will get CSX. Your crystal ball is as good as mine of course, but that is what I keep hearing.

George

[espeefoamer]

Note the middle initals of bNSf.
BNSF=Buy Norfolk Southern Fast!

[Anonymous]

i dont think the railroads or the shippers want any more mergers. everything is working well now, and the run through trains and power sharing agreements between the railroads work almost as good as a merger for both the railroads and the shippers.

but, if it did happen, i think BNSF would get KCS or CN first. the KCS merger would force the UP to do anything yet, but if BNSF got CN, then UP would get CP. then BNSF would most likely take NS and UP would take CSX. then everything would turn to crap and all the freight would go to us truckers and then no one would be able to get anywhere on the highwats because they would be too clogged with trucks.

[Anonymous]

I think its fine the way it is with UP BNSF in the western United States, NS CSX in eastern United States CP CN in Canada and the midwestern United States KCS Florida East Coast in Southern United States and TFM FERROMEX FERROSUR in Mexico . So right now its simple.

[Anonymous]

And also if Union Pacfic does merger with the Canadian Pacific wouldn't they likely swollow them whole like a class 1 railroad swollowing regional railroad

[willy6]

my father-in-law just retired from NS, and in passing i might of heard the words....."BNSF and NS.........might be like peanut butter and jelly"

[Anonymous]

Have you noticed a quiet truce in the last 3-4 yrs. The RR's aren't asking STB for mergers and the ATA (Amer Trkg Assoc.) isn't asking for longer, heavier vehicles. Whoever moves first incites the wrath of the other.

Also picture this -
UP + CSX = UP loses current NS interline traffic. Bad answer!
UP + NS = UP loses current CSX interline traffic. Also a bad answer!
BNSF + CSX = BNSF loses current NS interline traffic. Another bad answer!
BNSF + NS = BNSF loses current CSX interline traffic. Also a bad answer!


Maybe we're seeing the best case scenario as-is for all four.

What about KCS + TFM. Its in court right now and the smart $ says that its going to happen by 3rd qtr.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps the opposite will happen and we will slowly see all of these new Class II and III railways get bigger and bigger as they take over the rail being abandoned by the Class I's, and the next thing we know the Class IIs will be bidding for the Class I's....

Montana Rail Link bids for NS.....

[Noah Hofrichter]

What are the requirements to be a class one railroad? There's a railroad called Wisconsin and Southern that only runs through southern Wisconsin and they're a class one railroad.

Any help would be appreciated,
Noah[8D][:P][8D][:P]

[Saxman]

Since this is all speculation here is my two cents: CN goes after CSX. To make the deal work CN splits CSX with the NS. CN gets the route from Chicago to Pittsburg, PA. via Willard, OH (ex B&O) connecting the Bessemer and Lake Erie to the CN. To keep the Wheeling and Lake Erie happy, they are given some CSX lines CN does not want. Same with the I&O. NS gets alternative routes around Washington DC to the south from New York City. Towards the Mississippi River side: CN gets routes to Atlanta, GA from existing connections in the south. From existing IC trackage in Kentucky, connecting CSX lines to Louisville, Cincinnati and Toledo, OH. End result, two Class I raliroads in the east: CN and NS and two Class I railroads in the west: UP and BNSF.

[Anonymous]

I think there will be a BNSF+NS+KCS in 3 to 5 yrs.

[Anonymous]

Also I think their will be a UP+CSX becuase I've seen a lot CSX Locomotives on UP

[Anonymous]

I was also thinking what would happen if BNSF+ CN become North America's Railway what would happen with Via running on CN's track would they continue there service or is that up to them

[Anonymous]

QUOTE:
What are the requirements to be a class one railroad? There's a railroad called Wisconsin and Southern that only runs through southern Wisconsin and they're a class one railroad.

Class distinctions are based on revenue and route miles, and are set by the US Surface Transportation Board. In 2001, Class Is had revenue of at least 250 Million; Class IIs at least 20 Million or 350 route miles; Class IIIs under 20 Million.

--From Trains March 2004, "The Plight of the short line railroad"

[Saxman]

Doggy,

Everybody is running the other guy's locomotives. Hardly an indication of impending mergers. I work for CN and in 2003 operated more foreign power than CN!

[Anonymous]

Don't count on any mergers any time soon. What you can count on are what they have been terming strategic alliances. These work well for both partners they are not permanent, so if the freight shifts or large customers go belly up they are not stuck with a bad deal. One other point to consider in all the recent mergers was there were winners and losers and no one wants to be a loser and out of a job from a Ceo to a Janitor the smaller fish always seem to get emty promises that the big fish always seems to forget after a few month's.[2c]

[Anonymous]

Check this out for the definition of a class 1. Its a pretty good document from AAR. Assoc of American RR's.
http://www.aar.org/PubCommon/Documents/AboutTheIndustry/Statistics.pdf

The magic # is $272 million or greater in revenue per year to be a class 1.

With regard to Wisconsin Southern, since I live in Wisconsin, I'd consider all RR's in Wisconsin to be 1st Class [:D] Well, all except CN - which is low class ( just my 2 cents[xx(].)

[Anonymous]

Firstly, a temporary moratorium was placed on Class I mergers after CN and BNSF's botched attempt at a "combination" to become NAR. Secondly, CN, while being a private company, is governed by special rules, including that no one may own more than 13% of the company....this was put in place by Canada's parliament when they voted to privatize CN. So nobody could outright swallow up CN.

"through service" is the way of the future, with the CN-KCS-TFM thing going, and CN-CSX....and anyone around Montreal may have noticed the inordinate amount of UP cars on CP trains.

~Ra'akone

[coborn35]

Why can't they just stay the same. I've had enough on different paint schemes.

[BaltACD]

QUOTE: Originally posted by coborn35

Why can't they just stay the same. I've had enough on different paint schemes.

Why can't you leave year old threads where the belong.....a year old.!