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News Wire: Feds to CSX: Show us the numbers

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Posted by Brian Schmidt on Wednesday, August 16, 2017 8:43 AM

WASHINGTON — Railroading's top regulators say they now want more detailed information from CSX Transportation, up-front, before weekly calls regarding the railroad's performance. Acting Surface Transportation Board Chair Ann Begeman wrote to ...

http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2017/08/15-csx-stb-update-letter

Brian Schmidt, Editor, Classic Trains magazine

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Posted by RME on Wednesday, August 16, 2017 8:59 AM

PDF link to original letter (July 27th) is here.

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Posted by Ulrich on Wednesday, August 16, 2017 2:54 PM

Is lousy service against the law?

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Posted by RME on Wednesday, August 16, 2017 2:59 PM

Ulrich
Is lousy service against the law?

Apparently it is when the STB thinks you're no longer fulfilling your common-carrier requirements.   Or that you're fibbing or evading requests for information they want.

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Posted by Euclid on Wednesday, August 16, 2017 3:15 PM

What is the legal remedy for failing to fulfill your common-carrier requirements?

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Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, August 16, 2017 4:19 PM

Euclid
What is the legal remedy for failing to fulfill your common-carrier requirements?

Would failure to comply with a STB request be akin to Obstruction of Justice?

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Posted by Euclid on Wednesday, August 16, 2017 6:54 PM

BaltACD
 
Euclid
What is the legal remedy for failing to fulfill your common-carrier requirements?

 

Would failure to comply with a STB request be akin to Obstruction of Justice?

 

I doubt it.  But failing to fulfull your common-carrier requirement might be a high crime or misdemeanor. 

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Posted by slotracer on Thursday, August 17, 2017 10:02 AM

Ulrich, I have watched your posts and long ago concluded you are totally out of touch, tell us, what color is the sky in the world you live in ?

IS it against the law.....technically no, but if a rail union went on strike the feds step in and order them back to work as it is a danger to many segments of the US economy. Instead we have a madman at the helm of one of the countries largest railroads which is effectively grinding parts of the ecomomy to a halt. 44 shipper groups went to the STB again since the 7/27 STB notice to EHH as the service has become FAR WORSE. We are approaching the point for shippers and consignees that there will be no more available trucks to call in, plants are going to shut down, orders and material flows are going to stop but that's all just normal in the parallel universe you reside in.

STB upped the ante with another letter this past Monday increasing the oversight. That makes 2 times the STB has noticed the problem and began involvement, less than 5 months into Harrisons tenure, that speaks volumes. This is an extreme example of why shippers and consignees dislike railraods so much and many, if they could would have nothing to do with railroads at all. I have heard from CSX internal souces that UPS did not renew their contract with CSX for 2018. In case you are unclear, that is not a good thing. Our senior amangement is fully aware of what is happening and is fully onboard to invest in the logisitical infrastructure at our plants to enable nearly all of our volumes conected with CSX to go over to truck or transload. We are working with vendors to support. It will take a year or so to get it all done but the wheels are in motion and there is no going back at this point. These will be 5 or more year deals with many hundreds of carloads going off CSX and none of it will come back to them for a very long time if ever.

But poor service is ok with you....got it....

 

 

 

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Posted by Shadow the Cats owner on Thursday, August 17, 2017 10:18 AM

The company I work at the drivers are wearing themselves out trying to cover were CSX serves the same customers we do.  Right now we have no extra capacity to even consider taking on anything else.  We are pushing everyone as hard as we can we have mechanics running local runs to free up drivers to cover regional runs to allow more drivers OTR.  We are out of drivers we can use and do not have anymore we can hire and right now equipment is getting very hard to come by.

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Posted by Euclid on Thursday, August 17, 2017 10:55 AM

slotracer
IS it against the law.....technically no, but if a rail union went on strike the feds step in and order them back to work as it is a danger to many segments of the US economy. Instead we have a madman at the helm of one of the countries largest railroads which is effectively grinding parts of the ecomomy to a halt.

Well if it is not against the law to do what Harrison is doing to CSX, then what will the STB do about it?

 

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Posted by Ulrich on Thursday, August 17, 2017 12:44 PM

Euclid

 

 
slotracer
IS it against the law.....technically no, but if a rail union went on strike the feds step in and order them back to work as it is a danger to many segments of the US economy. Instead we have a madman at the helm of one of the countries largest railroads which is effectively grinding parts of the ecomomy to a halt.

 

Well if it is not against the law to do what Harrison is doing to CSX, then what will the STB do about it?

 

 

 

Not much. Reregulation under Trump is a nonstarter. The STB can only ask for reports and that's pretty much it. They are a toothless pussycat. CSX will get back on track with service shortly.. 

 

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Posted by Ulrich on Thursday, August 17, 2017 12:56 PM

slotracer

Ulrich, I have watched your posts and long ago concluded you are totally out of touch, tell us, what color is the sky in the world you live in ?

IS it against the law.....technically no, but if a rail union went on strike the feds step in and order them back to work as it is a danger to many segments of the US economy. Instead we have a madman at the helm of one of the countries largest railroads which is effectively grinding parts of the ecomomy to a halt. 44 shipper groups went to the STB again since the 7/27 STB notice to EHH as the service has become FAR WORSE. We are approaching the point for shippers and consignees that there will be no more available trucks to call in, plants are going to shut down, orders and material flows are going to stop but that's all just normal in the parallel universe you reside in.

STB upped the ante with another letter this past Monday increasing the oversight. That makes 2 times the STB has noticed the problem and began involvement, less than 5 months into Harrisons tenure, that speaks volumes. This is an extreme example of why shippers and consignees dislike railraods so much and many, if they could would have nothing to do with railroads at all. I have heard from CSX internal souces that UPS did not renew their contract with CSX for 2018. In case you are unclear, that is not a good thing. Our senior amangement is fully aware of what is happening and is fully onboard to invest in the logisitical infrastructure at our plants to enable nearly all of our volumes conected with CSX to go over to truck or transload. We are working with vendors to support. It will take a year or so to get it all done but the wheels are in motion and there is no going back at this point. These will be 5 or more year deals with many hundreds of carloads going off CSX and none of it will come back to them for a very long time if ever.

But poor service is ok with you....got it....

 

 

 

 

 

The STB "upped the ante" with another letter? Wow.. another letter huh..Relax man, the sky is gray here and NOT falling.   

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Posted by Los Angeles Rams Guy on Thursday, August 17, 2017 6:59 PM

 

Not much. Reregulation under Trump is a nonstarter. The STB can only ask for reports and that's pretty much it. They are a toothless pussycat. CSX will get back on track with service shortly.. 

 

 

[/quote]

Glad to see you have faith in ol' Hee Haw Head Hunter.  I'm sure that functioning lunatic will have things all fine and dandy within a few short weeks.  Right.Laugh

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Posted by jeffhergert on Thursday, August 17, 2017 7:21 PM

Ulrich

 

Not much. Reregulation under Trump is a nonstarter. The STB can only ask for reports and that's pretty much it. They are a toothless pussycat. CSX will get back on track with service shortly.. 

 

 

If the calls for reregulation come from regular people, I'd agree with you.  When calls come from other business people all bets are off.  It will probably come down to which side, railroads or customers, spends the most on bribes campaign contributions to politicians.

Jeff

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Posted by Ulrich on Thursday, August 17, 2017 7:27 PM

Los Angeles Rams Guy

 

Not much. Reregulation under Trump is a nonstarter. The STB can only ask for reports and that's pretty much it. They are a toothless pussycat. CSX will get back on track with service shortly.. 

 

 

Glad to see you have faith in ol' Hee Haw Head Hunter.  I'm sure that functioning lunatic will have things all fine and dandy within a few short weeks.  Right.Laugh

 

[/quote]

 

I don't know about "fine and dandy" or a few short weeks. My short term is within five years. Not much can be done in just a few weeks. But alot can be accomplished in five years. And in five years CSX will be in better shape than when EHH found it or it will be part of of a larger better functioning system. Even the mess with Penn Central got turned around within five years, and CSX today is in no where near the poor shape the PC was in 1975. Try to have a little faith.. there are problems that need to be worked through.. such is business and life.

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Posted by BaltACD on Thursday, August 17, 2017 9:07 PM

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by oltmannd on Friday, August 18, 2017 2:18 PM

Euclid

 

 
slotracer
IS it against the law.....technically no, but if a rail union went on strike the feds step in and order them back to work as it is a danger to many segments of the US economy. Instead we have a madman at the helm of one of the countries largest railroads which is effectively grinding parts of the ecomomy to a halt.

 

Well if it is not against the law to do what Harrison is doing to CSX, then what will the STB do about it?

 

 

Directed service is the big lever the STB can pull.

-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/

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Posted by BaltACD on Friday, August 18, 2017 5:54 PM

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by zugmann on Friday, August 18, 2017 5:54 PM

Ulrich
there are problems that need to be worked through.. such is business and life.

Yeah, but he created a lot of them.

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

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Posted by BaltACD on Friday, August 18, 2017 5:57 PM

zugmann
 
Ulrich
there are problems that need to be worked through.. such is business and life. 

Yeah, but he created a lot of them.


http://csx-sucks.com/prof/

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Posted by Ulrich on Friday, August 18, 2017 7:11 PM

True of all of us I think.. Problems in one's business/life: the man/woman you see in the mirror is usually responsible for at least 70% of them. The other 30% can be ascribed to others, bad luck, EHH..Laugh

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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Saturday, August 19, 2017 11:09 AM

For a start, check out CSX's page on the RPM website:

http://www.railroadpm.org/home/RPM/Performance%20Reports/CSX.aspx 

Look at the trends, and draw your own conclusions.  

- PDN. 

"This Fascinating Railroad Business" (title of 1943 book by Robert Selph Henry of the AAR)
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Posted by BaltACD on Saturday, August 19, 2017 12:42 PM

Paul_D_North_Jr
For a start, check out CSX's page on the RPM website:

http://www.railroadpm.org/home/RPM/Performance%20Reports/CSX.aspx 

Look at the trends, and draw your own conclusions.  

- PDN. 

Note that Terminal Dwell and Train Speeds are a function of CSX Reporting and subject to 'sharp pencil' editing.

Cars on line are a function of the AAR's Railinc data system and not subject to CSX 'sharp pencil' editing.

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Posted by Paul_D_North_Jr on Saturday, August 19, 2017 3:09 PM

Ulrich
Is lousy service against the law?

By itself and with jail as a possible penalty - likely not. 

But wait until the stock price crashes - then securities fraud is a possibility.  (Assume the SEC under Trump won't do anything - although other businesses may carry greater weight.)  Why securities fraud ?  Promising so much without a real operating plan - he's supposed to be an expert in that, right ?  Thought this all out in advance, right ?  Even got a qualified expert consultant to look at it and say, "Yes, it's going to work", right ?  That way he'd at least have 'justified reliance' on his concepts.  So why's it going so badly ?  Maybe he knew, or should have known, or was reckless about it - that it wasn't going to work.  

I could also see the STB initiating a rule similar to its Class 1 merger rule, for major changes in CEO or operating plans: a study has to be done showing that it'll be in the public interest.  That would slow it down and put all of the cards on the table in advance.  But even when CN merged the EJ&E into it, EHH got into trouble for fudging the data on grade crossing delays - which was a condition of the merger.  So maybe that's why the STB is showing that it doesn't trust him or his excuses now.

- PDN.  

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Posted by BaltACD on Saturday, August 19, 2017 4:03 PM

Paul_D_North_Jr
 
Ulrich
Is lousy service against the law? 

By itself and with jail as a possible penalty - likely not.  

But wait until the stock price crashes - then securities fraud is a possibility.  (Assume the SEC under Trump won't do anything - although other businesses may carry greater weight.)  Why securities fraud ?  Promising so much without a real operating plan - he's supposed to be an expert in that, right ?  Thought this all out in advance, right ?  Even got a qualified expert consultant to look at it and say, "Yes, it's going to work", right ?  That way he'd at least have 'justified reliance' on his concepts.  So why's it going so badly ?  Maybe he knew, or should have known, or was reckless about it - that it wasn't going to work.  

I could also see the STB initiating a rule similar to its Class 1 merger rule, for major changes in CEO or operating plans: a study has to be done showing that it'll be in the public interest.  That would slow it down and put all of the cards on the table in advance.  But even when CN merged the EJ&E into it, EHH got into trouble for fudging the data on grade crossing delays - which was a condition of the merger.  So maybe that's why the STB is showing that it doesn't trust him or his excuses now.

- PDN.  

I am just wishing there was some way us 7%ers.  The 7% of the stockholders who thought giving into Mantle Ridge and EHH WAS NOT in the best interests of CSX and their shares. I wish the 7% could sue the 93%, Mantle Ridge and EHH for theft!  And from my stance of being a 36 year CSX'er trying with my best efforts to fulfill the corporate pledge of 'To be THE BEST Transportation Company in our service area' to sue for emotional pain and suffering as this group has turned CSX into the laughing stock of the entire transportation industry.  I can only visualize Oscar Munoz, despite all his troubles at United Air Lines laughing his ass off when he thinks what it would have been like had he stayed with CSX and the brain dead institutional stockholders that facilitated The Childrens Fund fiasco and then were sucked in by Mantle Ridge.  Obviously Michael Ward saw the writing on the wall of these financial idiots and featured he didn't need to wreck his sanity and health in the face of such imbeciles, took his golden parachute and ran as far as possible from the train wreck he saw coming.

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Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, August 23, 2017 11:29 AM

War Story from Facebook of EHH's Precision Railroading.

I got one the q64716 day before yesterday at Lilly,Ga that had been sitting there 2 days. We had to switch engines out and had air problems and didn't get that fixed until being on duty 10 hrs so we never left. It was 11,000 ft and 17,000 tons and it finally arrived waycross 79 hrs late.

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Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, August 23, 2017 2:02 PM

Book Cooking!

http://www.progressiverailroading.com/csx_transportation/news/CSX-revises-service-metrics-to-better-reflect-performance--52528

 

In addition the former practice of having management, labor Overlapping Safety Commitees to resolve safety issues as they developed has been disbanded.

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Posted by RME on Wednesday, August 23, 2017 3:23 PM

BaltACD

I wonder if this page would also be helpful in assessing the 'metrics modifications'...

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Posted by n012944 on Wednesday, August 23, 2017 3:29 PM

BaltACD
 

In addition the former practice of having management, labor Overlapping Safety Commitees to resolve safety issues as they developed has been disbanded.

 

That was done before EHH.

An "expensive model collector"

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Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, August 23, 2017 4:00 PM

n012944
 
BaltACD 

In addition the former practice of having management, labor Overlapping Safety Commitees to resolve safety issues as they developed has been disbanded. 

That was done before EHH.

On the Baltimore Division they were still in place when I retired Dec. 19, 2016.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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