The complaint against CN has several interesting items.
1. The July 2014 Amtrak performance report page E-5 list delays by each RR for each route.
a. The CN routes are in the middle for delays per 10,000 miles.
b. NS Michigan routes are the worse at almost 8000 minutes per 10,000 miles but NS on the east coast is the fewest minutes.
So what has singled out CN ?
2. No apparent interest in pushing the Grand crossing connector ?
3. Unlike other carriers CN has not announced any infrastructure up grades on its routes.
a. NS and CSX are upgrading routes into Chicago
b. BNSF's big push on the northern route is well known
c. AS well BNSF is upgrading track in Illinois
d. On the other hand no improvement on BNSF into Denver.
e. UP upgrading several routes as well.
4. IC before CN took over IC did single track CTC much of the route and reduced mas authorized speed from 90 to 79 MPH
a. Did the government put any conditions on the IC cut back pertaining to OTP
5. Unlike the other class 1s CN has not made any good faith effort to decrease delays. CN still has not even upgraded their signals to allow for trains less than 32 (?) axels ? .Maybe they feel insulated since it is their US subsidiary Grand Trunk RR is separate from the Canadian operations ?
6. Have no sympathy for their underpowered trains that lumber down the main line of mid America.
7. Guess it is time for the IC line to get at least super sidings to allow faster trains to pass ? How is their intermodal schedules as well ?
8. CN was very uncooperative in negotiations with IDOT over the Blackhawk service, so that the routing had to switch to the UP from Elgin to Rockford and terminate there (for now).
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
Slightly off topic, but ...
In the past year I've ridden the City of New Orleans both ways, the California Zephyr and the Southwest Chief one way each. In my opinion the CN roadbed is a much rougher ride over its distance than either the BNSF or the UP. While I would be the last one to argue that a freight railroad has a duty to maintain its track to a higher standard because it is hosting Amtrak, I have to wonder what the perceived difference in maintenance standards is saying about each railroad.
Dakguy201 Slightly off topic, but ... In the past year I've ridden the City of New Orleans both ways, the California Zephyr and the Southwest Chief one way each. In my opinion the CN roadbed is a much rougher ride over its distance than either the BNSF or the UP. While I would be the last one to argue that a freight railroad has a duty to maintain its track to a higher standard because it is hosting Amtrak, I have to wonder what the perceived difference in maintenance standards is saying about each railroad.
It is especially sad when one considers how they were in the 1960's when SF, CB&Q and IC ran great trains with some pretty high speeds. Recall Don Stefee's annual speed reports. The IC was so smooth and fast on its Illinois speedway, but not now.
schlimm 8. CN was very uncooperative in negotiations with IDOT over the Blackhawk service, so that the routing had to switch to the UP from Elgin to Rockford and terminate there (for now).
That was more than likely a result of the original STB complaint that Amtrak filed in early 2012. If I was the CN, and Amtrak had taken me to task for my handling of its trains, you better believe I would ask for the world if you want to add more of your trains to my tracks. Actions do have consequences.
9. Political Posturing. If you read the latest STB amendment, the only non railroad/law firm that are copied on the complaint is Senator Dick Durbin. Senator Durbin is up for re-election this year, and it is reported to be a somewhat close race. Going after the CN will no doubt play well to the NIMBY CN haters that run TRAC. There are some deep pockets behind TRAC.
An "expensive model collector"
WHAT complaint are you talking about?
PNWRMNM WHAT complaint are you talking about?
This is the original one from 2012.
http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/743/t/202816.aspx
This is the amendment that the CN added on 9/12/14
http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/passenger/intercity/amtrak-to-stb-investigate-cn.html?channel=41
Actual filing . Note the second section that has specific examples. Maybe someone familiar with the locations can enlighten us as to facts. Maybe the removed double tracking caused this ? Other signal problems such as location ? CPs ? Roadway grade crossings ?
http://www.stb.dot.gov/filings/all.nsf/ba7f93537688b8e5852573210004b318/08e89cdbeff6c0c185257d430077b2eb/$FILE/236557.pdf
n012944 That was more than likely a result of the original STB complaint that Amtrak filed in early 2012. If I was the CN, and Amtrak had taken me to task for my handling of its trains, you better believe I would ask for the world if you want to add more of your trains to my tracks. Actions do have consequences. 9. Political Posturing. If you read the latest STB amendment, the only non railroad/law firm that are copied on the complaint is Senator Dick Durbin. Senator Durbin is up for re-election this year, and it is reported to be a somewhat close race. Going after the CN will no doubt play well to the NIMBY CN haters that run TRAC. There are some deep pockets behind TRAC.
Actually, the 20th Century Railroad Club is having issues with CN as well. It's Hunter Harrison's left over Lieutenants causing issues I think more than it is the railroad itself. Until Hunter came on board there wasn't an issue with running an occasional excursion to Galena or with hosting Amtrak for that matter.
Curious though the same impact has not yet hit Canadian Pacific. My thinking there is the CP employees are cherry picking what Hunter says vs following everything. CP probably has a deeper culture of skepticism vs CN. Probably because CN at one time was a government entity and CP has a longer history as being privately held (so less drones at CP vs CN)? Just a hunch I have.
Had a somewhat similar argument earlier with Sam1, that you can't turn a ship overnight. You can't say a former Utility is suddenly "for profit" just by a reorg and change in business approach. It takes at least a generation to get rid of the former "utility" employees and purge the system. Unless of course you have draconian layoffs to help. Not sure if she agreed.....it was opinion anyway.
n012944 schlimm 8. CN was very uncooperative in negotiations with IDOT over the Blackhawk service, so that the routing had to switch to the UP from Elgin to Rockford and terminate there (for now). That was more than likely a result of the original STB complaint that Amtrak filed in early 2012. If I was the CN, and Amtrak had taken me to task for my handling of its trains, you better believe I would ask for the world if you want to add more of your trains to my tracks. Actions do have consequences. 9. Political Posturing. If you read the latest STB amendment, the only non railroad/law firm that are copied on the complaint is Senator Dick Durbin. Senator Durbin is up for re-election this year, and it is reported to be a somewhat close race. Going after the CN will no doubt play well to the NIMBY CN haters that run TRAC. There are some deep pockets behind TRAC.
8. The railroad had entered into an initial plan, but would not let the service be increased to 2 trains per day, So, they dawdled and stalled until IDOT looked elsewhere. The CN RoW would have been upgraded at government expense. Pennywise, pound foolish. And memory runs both ways. Wait until the next time CN wants something.
9. Durbin was running 7 points ahead of Oberweis (a perennial loser) in the late August Sun-Times poll. Not a close race. Your reporting was wrong. TRAC's mission: To educate citizens about Canadian National Railway's (CN) acquisition of the EJ&E Railway, insure that CN complies fully with federally ordered mitigation requirements; and encourage opportunities for impacted citizens to unite in defending community interests.
schlimm Dakguy201 Slightly off topic, but ... In the past year I've ridden the City of New Orleans both ways, the California Zephyr and the Southwest Chief one way each. In my opinion the CN roadbed is a much rougher ride over its distance than either the BNSF or the UP. While I would be the last one to argue that a freight railroad has a duty to maintain its track to a higher standard because it is hosting Amtrak, I have to wonder what the perceived difference in maintenance standards is saying about each railroad. It is especially sad when one considers how they were in the 1960's when SF, CB&Q and IC ran great trains with some pretty high speeds. Recall Don Stefee's annual speed reports. The IC was so smooth and fast on its Illinois speedway, but not now.
Same way on the former IC Iowa Division where both the "Land O' Corn" and the "Hawkeye" along with the meat trains out of both Council Bluffs/Omaha and Sioux City ran. Granted, CN has done a good job with getting the Iowa Division mainlline and secondary lines back up to high standards again after ICG let the Iowa Division fall apart in the early 80's. Still, CN needs to let loose of the antagonism toward Amtrak so that Amtrak service to Galena and Dubuque - and eventually Waterloo as well - can become a reality once again.
schlimm 9. Durbin was running 7 points ahead of Oberweis (a perennial loser) in the late August Sun-Times poll. Not a close race.
9. Durbin was running 7 points ahead of Oberweis (a perennial loser) in the late August Sun-Times poll. Not a close race.
http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Dick-Durbin-Jim-Oberweis-Illinois-senate-race-polling-273573531.html
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/narrow
"with little margin to spare; barely adequate or successful; close"
Also, your simpleton reporting of the lead that Durbin has also overlooks the fact that the lead has been cut in half since April. No doubt a cause for alarm in the Durbin camp. Getting some funding from the NIMBY CN haters that are behind TRAC do doubt could be a real goal for Durbin's people. He has a history of not only not playing nice to the CN but placating TRAC'S Barrington based NIMBYS.
http://www.durbin.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=13b970d4-dd71-41c4-b2d4-e9da163f44c5
http://www.durbin.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=79050f91-ebb5-4f9a-bc8e-9514f619922b
n012944 schlimm 9. Durbin was running 7 points ahead of Oberweis (a perennial loser) in the late August Sun-Times poll. Not a close race. http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Dick-Durbin-Jim-Oberweis-Illinois-senate-race-polling-273573531.html "Durbin Narrowly Leads Oberweis in Sun-Times Poll" http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/narrow "with little margin to spare; barely adequate or successful; close" Also, your simpleton reporting of the lead that Durbin has also overlooks the fact that the lead has been cut in half since April. No doubt a cause for alarm in the Durbin camp. Getting some funding from the NIMBY CN haters that are behind TRAC do doubt could be a real goal for Durbin's people. He has a history of not only not playing nice to the CN but placating TRAC'S Barrington based NIMBYS. http://www.durbin.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=13b970d4-dd71-41c4-b2d4-e9da163f44c5 http://www.durbin.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=79050f91-ebb5-4f9a-bc8e-9514f619922b
You know, it isn't necessary to use terms like simpleton. It's insulting and you should have learned that. Most political experts would not see a 7.2 point margin as close. But I guess since you are some sort of railroad person, you get carte blanche from the moderators.
Most folks also find the term NIMBY insulting and it is typically used by people who cannot make a coherent argument based on facts, but need to resort to ad hominem attacks.
schlimm [ You know, it isn't necessary to use terms like simpleton. It's insulting and you should have learned that. Most political experts would not see a 7.2 point margin as close. But I guess since you are some sort of railroad person, you get carte blanche from the moderators. Most folks also find the term NIMBY insulting and it is typically used by people who cannot make a coherent argument based on facts, but need to resort to ad hominem attacks.
[
You might want to consider seeking some help soon Schlimm....Your inferiority complex over what you believe railroad personal get on this site is becoming alarming.
You are also quite the expert on what most people think. According to you, CSX has the worst reputation among major railroads to people outside of the industry. Of course that "fact" overlooks that a non-industry major magazine listed CSX as one of its 50 most admired companies. With that track record of knowing what people think, how can you know what "most political experts" think, or what "most folks find insulting"?
I would bet the only people that find the term NIMBYS insulting is when it is applied to them, and in most cases, the truth hurts. It is also quite ironic that you cry about a term that you perceive as an insult, and then not 2 sentences later, use a thinly veiled insult to people that use the term NIMBY.
My my, first you insult me with the term "simpleton" and then proceed to suggest I need help and diagnose me with an "inferiority complex"? Your credentials, n012944? You are abusive and refuse to retract or apologize. Saying you engaged in an ad hominem attack is not an insult, simply the correct term for what you did.The CSX rating was by corporate types, not ordinary folks. You throw the term NIMBY around as though that automatically settles matters, end of discussion. It was of course that usage to which I object. You did not make a factual argument as to why some civic organizations have had to band together to oppose CN or what is so wrong with that.
from Amtrak: http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/306/662/Amtrak-STB-Investigation-CN-ATK-14-078.pdf
"Specifically, the OTP of the Illini/Saluki service was 49 percent for the quarter ending June 30 and just 42 percent for the prior quarter. In fact, the OTP for this state-supported service has been below 80 percent for three solid years and below 60 percent for most of that time."
It will be interesting if the STB lets CN off the hook.
schlimm The CSX rating was by corporate types, not ordinary folks.
The CSX rating was by corporate types, not ordinary folks.
Changing the goal posts again? According to you it was "ask anyone outside the industry", now it is "ask ordinary folks" Again, you are asking me to make a factual argument as to why TRAC is a NIMBY organization, however your factual argument to your CSX statement was, ask anyone outside the industry. Hypocritical, and just a bit sad.
Well I did ask two people, and my wife thinks they are a good organization, and my neighbor is amazed my the fact they can haul a ton of cargo so far on a gallon of fuel.......
Reported for abuse.
n012944 schlimm [ You know, it isn't necessary to use terms like simpleton. It's insulting and you should have learned that. Most political experts would not see a 7.2 point margin as close. But I guess since you are some sort of railroad person, you get carte blanche from the moderators. Most folks also find the term NIMBY insulting and it is typically used by people who cannot make a coherent argument based on facts, but need to resort to ad hominem attacks. You might want to consider seeking some help soon Schlimm....Your inferiority complex over what you believe railroad personal get on this site is becoming alarming. You are also quite the expert on what most people think. According to you, CSX has the worst reputation among major railroads to people outside of the industry. Of course that "fact" overlooks that a non-industry major magazine listed CSX as one of its 50 most admired companies. With that track record of knowing what people think, how can you know what "most political experts" think, or what "most folks find insulting"? I would bet the only people that find the term NIMBYS insulting is when it is applied to them, and in most cases, the truth hurts. It is also quite ironic that you cry about a term that you perceive as an insult, and then not 2 sentences later, use a thinly veiled insult to people that use the term NIMBY.
DwightBranch Reported for abuse.
Thanks for the useful addition to this thread.....
Why is it "posturing" for Sen. Durbin to complain about lousy CN handling of the Illini/Saluki service, and what does that have to do with the EJ&E?! Illinois is using federal and state taxpayer money to operate a service, and a person can argue in good faith (without being a NIMBY or enemy of the railroads) that CN isn't fulfilling its duties as a contractor of that service and is wasting some of those tax dollars. As an Illinoisan who (1) not only pays for but uses the state-sponsored Amtrak trains, and (2) hasn't an ounce of sympathy for the Barrington NIMBYs who groan and moan about the EJ&E, I want Sen. Durbin to hold CN's feet to the fire.
The fact that CN is right about the EJ&E doesn't make mishandling the Chicago-Carbondale trains right too. The fact that Sen. Durbin is "against" CN on the handling of the state-sponsored trains doesn't make him an ally of TRAC on the unrelated issue of the EJ&E.
And Illinois ain't Amtrak; the state employs Amtrak to operate the trains, but it was IDOT that was negotiating with CN to restore the Blackhawk. If CN is going to throw a hissy fit because Amtrak, train-sponsoring states, the STB, or the Man in the Moon have the gall to expect that a contract to host trains includes some kind of minimum performance level, well then I can have no sympathy for them on that issue while (gasp!) being AT THE SAME TIME fully sympathetic with CN on the EJ&E NIMBY issue.
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