BNSF vs UP

[owlsroost]

QUOTE: We took the Southwest Chief east bound from LA to Chicago 2 years ago. I did not observe any delays from UP feight trains. In fact, we arrived in Chicago ON TIME.

Probably because it's an all BNSF route - ex AT&SF from LA to just west of Galesburg, then ex CB&Q to Chicago (nice run too, although the only time I've been the whole distance was pre-BNSF, so it was AT&SF routing all the way to Chicago)

Tony

[BNSF4ever]

Yes facts. If I saw one or two freights at a standstill I might not think much of it. But I saw this time and again.

UP has no incentive for giving Amtrak higher priority.

However, Amtrak was formed at a time when the government still regulated the railroads. I am surprised that some language was not put in the National Rail Passenger Act that guaranteed Amtrak priority. What was in it for the railroads? Those that joined Amtrak (for a fee, yes), were immediately freed from money losing passenger trains.

Again, we're not talking a huge number of passenger trains. But the act is written, what's done is done and it appears Amtrak's western intercity trains are at the mercy of the freight railroads.

[Anonymous]

Why should UP give Amtrak the top priority, if they make more money running freights than running Amtrak. This is why they cut passenger service in the first place, now you want to force them to lose money. Now if Amtrack had a better inscentive ($$$).
James[C):-)]

[Anonymous]

I can only speak from my experience. My wife and I took the empire builder last month from Milwaukee to Seattle (and back). It was my observation that BNSF put most of their freights in the siding for us both ways. The only exception to that was when we were near Seattle, where we had to wait for a couple of freights to clear the station area.

On the CPRail portion of the trip, I observed freight trains wating in sidings for #8 to pass.

We took the Southwest Chief east bound from LA to Chicago 2 years ago. I did not observe any delays from UP feight trains. In fact, we arrived in Chicago ON TIME.

I have read all the horror stories about late trains, and I guess I've been lucky.

[spbed]

Do you know what your posted is FACT or is that just your assumptions[?][?][?]

Originally posted by BNSF4ever

Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR  Austin TX Sub

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