FORT WORTH, Texas - BNSF plans to become the first U.S. railroad to open an office in mainland China, says a story in The Dallas Morning News. The Shanghai office, opening this month, symbolizes the growing importance of Chinese exports to freight railroads such as BNSF, which is experiencing unprecedented demand thanks to the surge in trade, the newspaper said.
“We think 60 to 70 percent of goods coming in from Asia is coming from China,” said Stephen Branscum, group vice president of consumer products for the Fort Worth-based railway. The Shanghai office is expected to help the company stay in closer contact with its customers. The railroad currently operates only one office in the region – in Tokyo.
While BNSF will be the first U.S. railroad with offices in China, it will not be the first foreign railroad as both Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Railway already have a presence there, the CN in 2004, the CPR in 1997.
And so what’s the big deal? Railroads, airlines, and various other transport businesses have had off-line sales offices for decades. Take a look at any old issue of the Official Guide.
[:O] Do you mean to tell me that a railroad had the nerve to send company reps to the area where some of their business is coming from???..“to help the company stay in closer contact with its customers.”…[:O] What will they think of next?[;)]
It’s a cover. As FM could tell you, it is actually the new location for BNSF Board of Directors meetings, making it convenient for the China Government to issue orders on where the railroad will build new capacity.
You mean to tell me that an American company is actually doing business outside the United States? what kind of concept is that? been to Canada lately?
And theres more breaking news…an late breaking item just in from our business correspondent- "Overnight, thousands of cheaply made imported goods arrived throughout the nation on store shelves and in another developing story, everyone is now officially subsidized by Chinese credit. However the good news is that everyone who lost their jobs making things to buy is now employed in the booming economy working for WalMart.
BNSF issues a rate differential that favors (even subsidizes) Asian imports (70% of which is from The Peoples Republic) at the expense of domestic BNSF shippers. BNSF’s capacity expansion program (such as it is) is taking place mostly on the import intermodal corridor, while the lines that support the higher revenue grain and coal shipments are getting little if any improvement. BNSF treats it’s American customers like crap while bending over backwards to solidify it’s role in bolstering China’s economic and militaristic challenge to the US.
And now they make the PR anouncement of locating an office in China?
…and in other breaking news, Brad and Angelina were seen holding hands in public. Could it be that they are more than just aquaintences?..
Money talks and ------walks. As I sit here typing on my chinese notepad that is on top of my pressboard-Wallmart-knock together coffee table in my severely shrunk t-shirt that is slowly unraveling-I couldnt agree with you more.
There is plenty of blame to go around, mostly to US Govt. EPA, Labor Dept, OSHA come to mind instantly. It is a long sad story. The corporate types simply responded to the hostility of govt and left. Same thing happened to railroad industry after 1906 but is tough to pack it off to China.
And I always thought that standard GAUGE was 4’8-1/2" (1435mm).
And you can avoid buying anything from China as long as you are willing to pay more (in some cases a lot more). Globalisation isn’t going to stop. US made products cost more to make because the workers are paid more for the same work. There is no conspiracy. It is not the fault of the Federal Government nor of corporate management.
The big problem is improved communications, which make it as easy to get something made in China as in Detroit or Stuttgart or Milan. So the work goes where the workers will accept lower pay.
As long as you believe in the free market, rather than a centrally controlled economy, there is no option that will avoid work going to the lowest wage worker.
Your disingenuousness must be hard wired. As I have stated again and again on this forum, I have no problem with other countries wanting to sell their products in the US. I do have a problem with US railroad companies subsidizing the transportation of imported goods on the backs of domestic rail shippers. You know this full well, but in order to support your position (aka it is perfectly fine for importers to get favorable treatment from US railroads at the expense of domestic rail shippers) you have to engage in low ball name calling.
Fine, we’ll just follow your train of thought and go with this: If I’m a xenophobe, then you are a traitor.
What you all seem to be missing (aside from the xenophobic trend this topic is taking) is this:
The press release states that BNSF is setting up an office in China because “60 to 70 percent of goods coming in from Asia is coming from China”. You’ll notice there is no mention of BNSF setting up the office to facilitate the exportation of US goods into China.
Hmmmm, don’t BNSF trains run both directions? Or do they only run west to east?
To tell you the truth, I didn’t notice a mention of BNSF setting up an office to facilitate the exportation of Chinese goods into the US either. Someone else exports the goods, and ships them to west coast ports. BNSF facilitates hauling the goods east on the railroad. Their rates are based on competition, by UP.[:0] I feel you are stretching logic, when you say BNSF is somehow subsidizing foreign trade at the expense of American shippers. If BNSF didn’t pursue this rail traffic, someone else (UP) would.
As an interesting side note: Look at the shoes you’re wearing, and tell me where they were made.