QUESTION ON TRACKAGE RIGHTS

[spbed]

At the end of the Golden State route the SPRR was granted trackage rights over the BNSF for some traffic to KC & to Chicago for auto-rackers & intermodal. These rights were acquired by the UPRR when they absorbed the SPRR. When you watch the Ft Madison cam you see UPRR trains from time to time which means they are exterting there rights to use BNSF tracks. My question is does the BNSF collect a per mileage charge from the UPRR for the use of their tracks? Another question is when the UPRR loco's need refueling & the BNSF does it do they charge the UPRR for the fuel. Naturally the same question would apply between Dagget & Riverside on the BNSF & from Bakersfield to Mojave on the UPRR where the BNSF has trackage rights.

[Anonymous]

Ya I NEVER see that out here. Of cource it would be realy cool too. It's ALWAY'S UP!
BNSFrailfan.

[edbenton]

A couple yearsago Trains did an article on the old Rock Island Golden State route from El Paso to Kansa City. The article said it was actually the beter route from LA to Chicago with the trackage rights figured in, but the UP was quoted as saying by the time we take out the milage fees and other fees from the KC to Chicago link on the BNSF there is no profit at all left on any train. They furthered said we only use that as a last resort to keep the costs down. The way it sounds the Santa Fe knew they had the Southern Pacfic over a barrel and it was bend over here it ***mes.

[spbed]

Thanks if the mileage fees are so costly as you mention then why does the UPRR continue to route traffic on the GSR since this route ends at the BNSF? If you watch the Ft. Madison cam you will see UPRR trains going by on the BNSF transcon to/from Chicago. In fact when they ran the E/coast bullet train for UPS they ran it over the Sunset route then the GSR then the BNSF so there has to be a benefit somewhere in it for the UPRR. While have not yet been out on the GSR I would suspect they run other trains to KC then there own tracks after KC besides the Chicago traffic via the BNSF. [:)]

QUOTE: Originally posted by edbenton

A couple yearsago Trains did an article on the old Rock Island Golden State route from El Paso to Kansa City. The article said it was actually the beter route from LA to Chicago with the trackage rights figured in, but the UP was quoted as saying by the time we take out the milage fees and other fees from the KC to Chicago link on the BNSF there is no profit at all left on any train. They furthered said we only use that as a last resort to keep the costs down. The way it sounds the Santa Fe knew they had the Southern Pacfic over a barrel and it was bend over here it ***mes.

[daveklepper]

As noted in the Trains article, the UP's Chicago - Kansas City routes are longer in mileage and subject to congestion at junctions, while the BNSF Chicago - KC route is quite a speedway and has two alternative routes from Galesburg into Chicago, the old Burlington Main via Aurora, and the SF via Joliet. This also gives a better choice of destination yards for the UP.

[spbed]

Yes I read the article also in Trains magazine a couple of months ago. If I am correct it said ONLY auto rackers & intermodal are allowed to use the BNSF beyond KC. All other UPRR traffic MUST exit at KC. The Train magazine then said to get that traffic to connect that traffic with the overland route thy have to go almost due north to Nevada then from their to Chicago. The article said also that the UPRR has purchased land in Edelstein ILL so they will be able to transfer the rackers & intermodal form the BNSF to the UPRR Peoria sub then north to the overland saving them 90 miles so that they can access their terminals on the NS of Chicago + Global 3 west of Rochelle. Hopefully I read the article correctly which brings us back to the question that on one hand the UPRR complains about the fees & says it is not worth it but on the other they are investing money to make better use of the BNSF. To me sounds sort of crazy. [:)]

QUOTE: Originally posted by daveklepper

As noted in the Trains article, the UP's Chicago - Kansas City routes are longer in mileage and subject to congestion at junctions, while the BNSF Chicago - KC route is quite a speedway and has two alternative routes from Galesburg into Chicago, the old Burlington Main via Aurora, and the SF via Joliet. This also gives a better choice of destination yards for the UP.