Trains.com

Surface Transportation Board Proposes Competitive Switching Rule Locked

4639 views
104 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: S.E. South Dakota
  • 13,569 posts
Posted by Murphy Siding on Monday, August 1, 2016 6:35 AM

schlimm

 

 
Murphy Siding
 

 I don't know if I can agree with your line of thinking.  If you can add things that aren't there by way of context, then anyone can as well and what do you have? You infer something is in there, I infer it is not. Tie?


     Thank you for the inferential insult. That skill must have been declining since I graduated high school in 1979.  Would you like me to yell at the kids to get off your lawn for you?

  

 

 

Maybe this will help.  You're never too old to learn: Reading

 

Will there be a test later?

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: S.E. South Dakota
  • 13,569 posts
Posted by Murphy Siding on Monday, August 1, 2016 7:55 AM

schlimm
 
Murphy Siding
ergo, you've just proved that the term competitive switching does not appear in the section.

 

Not literally, of course,  but in context it his the heart of the matter.  Where do you think the STB got the idea and basis for its proposal?  From outer space?  Are you even capable of inferential reading?  It is a skill that is sadly in decline in our schools. But more likely, you are engaging in another of your silly games.

One thing stands out in this "discussion."  Many folks have never read the Staggers Act itself, just about it.

 

Is there a particular name for your tendency to believe that anybody who doesn't agree with you must be a dummy or is that simply some weird character idiosyncrasy that you carry around on your shoulder?

 

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 9,610 posts
Posted by schlimm on Monday, August 1, 2016 8:24 AM

I wonder what the name is for somebody who plays dumb and then when he disagrees with them, goes after posters with ad hominem attacks?  Answer: A former moderator.

C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan

  • Member since
    November 2013
  • 1,097 posts
Posted by Buslist on Monday, August 1, 2016 8:40 AM

schlimm

I wonder what the name is for somebody who plays dumb and then when he disagrees with them, goes after posters with ad hominem attacks?  Answer: A former moderator.

 

 

sounds "short-tempered, irrelevant, irritable, snide comment" To me!

 

  • Member since
    January 2014
  • 8,221 posts
Posted by Euclid on Monday, August 1, 2016 8:59 AM

I am amazed at the number of competing issues on this topic of competitive switching.  While I prefer free market principles to rule business, reciprocal switching mandated by the government does not exactly strike me as free market competition.  I expect that it would not work as intended and the attempt to further modify it to make it work, could easily lead to a slippery slope back to re-regulation. 

Here is some enlightenment on the position of agricultural interests who oppose reciprocal switching:

http://www.agri-pulse.com/Agriculture-groups-oppose-rail-shipping-proposal-03152013.asp

 

  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: S.E. South Dakota
  • 13,569 posts
Posted by Murphy Siding on Monday, August 1, 2016 9:03 AM

schlimm

I wonder what the name is for somebody who plays dumb and then when he disagrees with them, goes after posters with ad hominem attacks?  Answer: A former moderator.

 

  What is "the pot calling the kettle black"?

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 2,593 posts
Posted by PNWRMNM on Monday, August 1, 2016 9:42 AM

schlimm

I wonder what the name is for somebody who plays dumb and then when he disagrees with them, goes after posters with ad hominem attacks?  

No, its name is Schlimm, the foremost practioner of the art. At last we find something you know about.

Mac

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 2,593 posts
Posted by PNWRMNM on Monday, August 1, 2016 9:48 AM

Euclid

I am amazed at the number of competing issues on this topic of competitive switching.  While I prefer free market principles to rule business, reciprocal switching mandated by the government does not exactly strike me as free market competition.  I expect that it would not work as intended and the attempt to further modify it to make it work, could easily lead to a slippery slope back to re-regulation. 

Here is some enlightenment on the position of agricultural interests who oppose reciprocal switching:

http://www.agri-pulse.com/Agriculture-groups-oppose-rail-shipping-proposal-03152013.asp

 

 

Read more carefully, the grain and feed guys are opposed because the proposal does not go far enough.

Note that they also understand that the "railroad B" may refuse to play the shipper's game.

Mac

  • Member since
    October 2014
  • From: Flint or Grand Rapids, Mi or Elkhart, It Depends on the day
  • 573 posts
Posted by BOB WITHORN on Monday, August 1, 2016 9:52 AM

Amen!!

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Southeast Michigan
  • 2,983 posts
Posted by Norm48327 on Monday, August 1, 2016 10:34 AM

PNWRMNM

 

 
schlimm

I wonder what the name is for somebody who plays dumb and then when he disagrees with them, goes after posters with ad hominem attacks?  

 

 

No, its name is Schlimm, the foremost practioner of the art. At last we find something you know about.

Mac

 

Thumbs Up Thumbs UpThumbs Up

Norm


  • Member since
    December 2001
  • 1,486 posts
Posted by Victrola1 on Monday, August 1, 2016 12:00 PM

What about unit trains? 

A grain elevator in Listeria is on line A. Line A takes the Listeria Elevator's unit trains to New Orleans directly. The Listeria Elevator has figured it can get a better deal in Houston. Line A does not go to Houston. 

Line A's rate to reach Houston makes shipping there unattractive. Not far from Listeria Line B has a direct route to Houston. 

Would the proposed switching rule encourage Line B to go after the business?  

 

 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 9,610 posts
Posted by schlimm on Monday, August 1, 2016 12:11 PM

PNWRMNM

 

 
schlimm

I wonder what the name is for somebody who plays dumb and then when he disagrees with them, goes after posters with ad hominem attacks?  

 

 

No, its name is Schlimm, the foremost practioner of the art. At last we find something you know about.

Mac

 

Really clever! Such sharp wit!!   Better keep your day job, if you still have one.

C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan

  • Member since
    January 2014
  • 8,221 posts
Posted by Euclid on Monday, August 1, 2016 12:22 PM

PNWRMNM
 
Euclid

I am amazed at the number of competing issues on this topic of competitive switching.  While I prefer free market principles to rule business, reciprocal switching mandated by the government does not exactly strike me as free market competition.  I expect that it would not work as intended and the attempt to further modify it to make it work, could easily lead to a slippery slope back to re-regulation. 

Here is some enlightenment on the position of agricultural interests who oppose reciprocal switching:

http://www.agri-pulse.com/Agriculture-groups-oppose-rail-shipping-proposal-03152013.asp

 

 

 

 

Read more carefully, the grain and feed guys are opposed because the proposal does not go far enough.

Note that they also understand that the "railroad B" may refuse to play the shipper's game.

Mac

I see what you mean.  I had interpreted the article to mean that the grain and feed guys were complaining that the introduction of competition into the transportation market in a way that affects so few customers would upset the balance of competion in the grain and feed market. 

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 2,593 posts
Posted by PNWRMNM on Monday, August 1, 2016 2:43 PM

Victrola1

What about unit trains? 

A grain elevator in Listeria is on line A. Line A takes the Listeria Elevator's unit trains to New Orleans directly. The Listeria Elevator has figured it can get a better deal in Houston. Line A does not go to Houston. 

Line A's rate to reach Houston makes shipping there unattractive. Not far from Listeria Line B has a direct route to Houston. 

Would the proposed switching rule encourage Line B to go after the business?  

Victoria 1,

My first thought is no. While it would have been nice to know origin city and state so had some idea of the length of haul, and thus some indication of rates, plus if is single car, 25-26 car blocks, or full trains of over 100 cars, the basic analysis is the same.

Export rates tend to be equalized over a wide range of ports. In the case of Houston and New Orleans the first thing you want to  know is whether or not there is a differential in ocean freight. I never dealt with traffic on the Gulf Coast. My first though is no differential. Second thought is a surcharge at New Orleans due to the need to run ships up 100 miles of river. Third thought is a variying differential based on who knows what is going on in ocean freight market.

The fact that the shipper seems to want to go to Houston implies an ocean freight differential in favor of Houston. Lets assume a 10 cent per bushel spread, and 3600 bu/car (110 ton car with wheat at 60#/bu. Yes, I know actual commodity is probably rice or soybeans but I know the figures for wheat off the top of my head.)

That makes the most the elevator will pay B is the New Orleans rate plus $360 per car. Since the origin switch charge will be in that same range, B has little, if any, incentive to go after this traffic, particularly if his mileage is more than A's to NOL. Port terminal costs also play in. Houston will probably involve a switch by PTRA, NOL perhaps a switch by the Public Belt. Without looking these tariff rates up, which I do not care to do, I can not tell what the cost impact of port switching is as between A and B. 

My answer is NO, B is not interested on the basis of simple economics. Second answer is there is no money in pi$$ing A off, so no reason to do it. Third answer is NO becuase I do not need to start a rate war that will benefit someone who will desert me for 1 cent a bushel.

Mac

Moderator
  • Member since
    January 2011
  • From: Wisconsin
  • 1,532 posts
Posted by Brian Schmidt on Wednesday, August 3, 2016 12:28 PM

Please don't acknowledge the trolls. That makes it harder to clean up later. Just report and move on. Locking this thread.

Brian Schmidt, Editor, Classic Trains magazine

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