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Amtrak calls on STB to investigate Canadian National
OK, #1. Amtrak & Illinois want to increase on-time performance? Illinois & Amtrak pay to double-track the line that some IDIOT decided to tear up. #2. Amtrak regardless of having “federal law” in saying that passenger trains have "statutory rights. Its “eye wash”, its the private carrier’s track, not Amtrak’s (govt.) what’s on paper and what’s reality are two VERY different things. #3. Freight traffic is ever increasing, and on single track? Puhleez, the freight is $, that train with the shiny side with blue accent is a $ waster. CN will lose $ and time letting all “others” to impede their cashflow. Im not anti- Amtrak!!
Amtrak and Illinois have to realize that increased rail traffic on a single main track is most certainly going to delay trains even CN’s own trains, CN is just going to tell STB " its a single main track, watcha gunna do?
Without double-tracking, it will never be resolved and CN does fine with a single track, so they (Amtrak & Illinois) are going to have pony up more $, that’s it, that’s all.
I want Amtrak & Illinois to add more service, I really do. Illinois has been very Amtrak friendly, but those two need to wake up and realize that without more track, they will NEVER be on time or close to it. And they are thinking of extending to Memphis? Yea O.K.
One of the main reasons that most railfans know is cn runs trains that are known in railfan circles as “LandBarges.” There are only so many sidings on the CN in IL for these meets. So when you have a smaller train out on the main it makes for tough times when amtrak is behind a barge. Also being that it is mainly single mainlines when a local gets out on the line it can at times block meets due to work in route. The strange thing is CN does have quite a few trains on the main, but often one can sit track side for hours and maybe only see 1 or 2 freights plus Amtrak. CN does a bad job of spacing out the trains and often runs in clumps.
I agree if amtrak wants to increase on time performance why not help double track the line so trains won’t be delayed at least down towards Memphis the city of new orleans is mostly on time and I experienced little delays from Memphis to new orleans
State of Illinois just announced $100 million to build a bridge over the Kankakee River on the old GMO track (now UP).
The second main was ripped out 25 years ago and CTC was installed. The volume of trains on the line doesnt call for double main. However, it would be difficult to run Amtrak on any single line today and maintain a schedule, unless it is padded.
Illinois has really stepped to the plate with funding of Amtrak. Urban legand Durbin continues his populist attack on corporations…Walgreens is cowering in the corner. I doubt it CN can do much without investment dollars.
Ed
What about on-time service w/Amtrak on the N-S RR (double track) tracks between Toledo, OH & Chicago?
The Capitol Limited & Lake Shore Limited are at least 2-3 hrs late everyday into Chicago. Sometimes more.
CN has had and still does have the lowest operation ratio of all the Class 1s ever since Harrison was Chairman, what this means is they have the financial resources to spend their own money adding in as many necessary sidings and new signalling as is needed. Don’t forget, any improvement to a single track line that also handles Amtrak will benefit the freight service as well, and that is really what CN should be concerned about, stop looking at short-term cost and start looking at long-term return. It would be a win-win-win for everyone involved, of course you have Wall Street hanging over your shoulder, something BNSF no longer has to worry about under Berkshire(Buffet) control, he let’s the experts run the show.
I find it hard to blame the railroad for the conditions that led to the reduction from double track to single track. If you have to pay more for the upkeep of your large house when you do need as much house as you formerly did, what do you do?
I have lived in Champaign IL since 1972. I remember when the IC took out the second track and very publically said that, because of technology, there would be very few delays on the single track railroad!! Of course this was silly but folks bought the fiction. The railroad gained millions from the changes and mislead the public. It seems that the railroad should own this problem and if more sidings etc. are needed, it should put them in (back). Why should I as a taxpayer be asked to fund improvements to solve a problem that the railroad caused?
I have lived in Champaign IL since 1972. I remember when the IC took out the second track and very publically said that, because of technology, there would be very few delays on the single track railroad!! Of course this was silly but folks bought the fiction. The railroad gained millions from the changes and mislead the public. It seems that the railroad should own this problem and if more sidings etc. are needed, it should put them in (back). Why should I as a taxpayer be asked to fund improvements to solve a problem that the railroad caused?
I rode the City of NO back in the late 80s when it was double track, but signaled only for direction of flow. We caught up to a land barge, and still had to follow slow since it was not signaled for overtakes. Apparently at the time it was single tracked CTC, there was not the traffic to justify 2MT CTC.
Someone mentioned what’s on paper vs reality. What’s on paper (the ATK provision) is the law. If the law was on CN’s side, they would not be delaying the confrontation. If the law is out of whack with reality, they should start in court.
I rode the City of NO back in the late 80s when it was double track, but signaled only for direction of flow. We caught up to a land barge, and still had to follow slow since it was not signaled for overtakes. Apparently at the time it was single tracked CTC, there was not the traffic to justify 2MT CTC.
Someone mentioned what’s on paper vs reality. What’s on paper (the ATK provision) is the law. If the law was on CN’s side, they would not be delaying the confrontation. If the law is out of whack with reality, they should start in court.
I rode the City of NO back in the late 80s when it was double track, but signaled only for direction of flow. We caught up to a land barge, and still had to follow slow since it was not signaled for overtakes. Apparently at the time it was single tracked CTC, there was not the traffic to justify 2MT CTC.
Someone mentioned what’s on paper vs reality. What’s on paper (the ATK provision) is the law. If the law was on CN’s side, they would not be delaying the confrontation. If the law is out of whack with reality, they should start in court.
Can Amtrak file complaints about BNSF, UP or others under the same statute? We keep reading about the Empire Builder nightmares, where the schedule is a suggestion rather than an objective.
In regards of the Amtrak law; Most but not all railroads at the time jumped on to the Amtrak bandwagon with both feet and were grateful for the take over. They have nothing to complain about now. They and their lawyers knew what they signed.
Build a new track with sidings just for AMTRAK and METRA.
Mr. Reid: yes, it’s the private company’s property, but it’s also the law and a condition Illinois Central (and all the other railroads) agreed to when they bought into Amtrak to be relieved of running the passenger trains on their own.
Mr. Degges: true, but now CN does need the bigger house again and is trying to get the government to build it for them.
According to Wikipedia, Bill Gates is the largest shareholder in CN.
Also, the CN’s predecessor, the Illinois Central was given land grants by the Federal government to build its track.
All in all, looks like CN should be more grateful to the taxpayers and the riders of Amtrak.
Would PTC be a benefit on the track in question?