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Harrison: U.S. politics may delay CP’s plans for NS
Is Harrison dropping hints that he’s finally going to give up?
They might as well buy back the stock.
In the first paragraph: How is the NS a Virginia-based competitor? They have very small volume of Chicago interchange and compete in very few routes. Route your traffic via Buffalo, they need the business but it all based on how you adjust the rate you change via different interchange.
“I don’t like to say the word trainwreck, but it’s coming,” Creel says. Yeah Baby! (to quote a long time Calgary sportscaster) Truer words. . .
Harrison and the CP are a train wreck. They are going to lay off 1,000 people but the railroad is doing well. Ask the people that get laid off how wonderful life will be. NS knows all of this; let’s hope the STB sees this as well and tells CP/Harrison where to go, how to get there and what to do when they get there. Leave NS alone or at least merge with another American railroad, not this idiot Canuck and his train set.
While I agree that consolidation in the railroad industry is beneficial and inevitable, I don’t think this merger is the way forward, don’t think Hunterizing will work for NS as well as is being sold, and agree that the Chicago congestion benefits - though real and valid in their approach - are overstated.
That said, I think EHH is correct about a lot of things. “The judge shouldn’t talk about the case before he gets the case” is just one of them.
One comment addressed the Chicago bottleneck and suggested that the cheapest charges associated with interchange traffic will be the chosen alternative. That is quite right since the bottom line tends to rule.
Rather than mergers to supposedly alleviate congestion in Chicago, the existing railroads could strive to interchange in Buffalo (as suggested below), various locations along or near the Mississippi River or even three railroad through trains along such corridors as the Meridian Speedway (KCS).
The question was asked, “How is the NS a Virginia-based competitor?” I have the impression that with its headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia it is certainly a Virginia-based company.
With regard to EHH being an “idiot Canuck”, as far as I know, Hunter never played for Vancouver in the NHL. He’s definitely not Canadian as he was born in Memphis where he went to University and worked for Frisco, etc. And there is even debate as to how much of an idiot he is. 
Political? Shippers have voiced some of the loudest opposition to the proposed merger. But, then, when has CP ever cared about shippers?
Let me give HH a little lesson in French…Nous! (English version = NO!)
He is not playing with a full deck. He says no one wants us to add capacity cause… New infrastructure nope no one wants that. Really so Chambersburg, PA and Rochelle, IL did not want their intermodal yards, the new warehouses and Joliet area either? Mobile, AL wants nothing to do with the new intermodal traffic and new jobs at their port via cn? Indy wanted no new jobs when indy rrd and cn came calling? What is EHH on? Yeah you won’t get any one to say yes if you don’t even try to build new lines! I have yet to see a class 1 try to build new lines. EHH is from the old school where you put everything together. Just how did that go for the UP/SP merger? Or say penn central? Rock Island? There is so much more they could do at say Peoria class 1s and gen wyoming for traffic to miss Chicago. At least ns and iais got a clue. Ol DW in nascar often says co-opetition. Well if class 1s don’t try that then it will be hard to get around chicago. Also CP has less then 4% of traffic going to ns. Kieth/Bill/Hunter all need to stop with the pile they are shoveling. They keep it up as Nickelback says it is hard to see through the pile when it is up above your eyes!
Mr. Barlow,
True, that facts are not debatable , because they are just that, FACTS.
Now, whether Harrison is an “idiot” or railroad genius or arrogant, ego maniac etc ,that is definitely, without a doubt, debatable !!
so you want mugah will give him mugah to canada not usa
Excuse my ignorance Mr. Horta, but what in the world is " mugah " ? Is it some kind of west coast ’ slang ’ or something ?
Interesting that CP’s stock price is down 15% so far this year and even by Mr. Harrison’s admission, this could stonewall their proposed merger with NS altogether.
Perhaps the combination of U.S. politics and financial constraints (on CP’s part) will end this legacy building exercise on the part of E Hunter Harrison and NS will remain independent. Then in a couple of years, when the time is right, Warren Buffet and Matt Rose (BNSF Railway) could come with checkbook in hand to buy Norfolk Southern outright. UP might also be a future merger partner but it seems that BNSF is a much more logical western rail partner for NS than CP Rail ever would be …
GOOD! I hope U.S. politics delay this merger for a waaaaay long time. Say like the old UP + RI merger proposal of yore. We have no business allowing a major U.S. railroad to be controlled by a “foreign” corporation strictly from a national security standpoint.
“… and what’s right for our shareholders …” That’s it, again, this proposal is all about money. CP stock value is down 15%, in spite of “record” earnings, CP is going to lay of 1,000 craft and management workers … it is evident that the ckickens are coming home to roost on CP, EHH and his sweetheart Bill Ackman are desperate for someone to partner up with and put the blame on when it doesn’t work as they think it should. Another hissy fit from EHH 'cause he can’t stand to hear the word, NO.
If the Chicago bottleneck is so important, then CP should participate with the industry efforts to alleviate the congestion, instead of remaining aloof. As an NS stockholder, I remain 100% opposed to this merger as it is not in the best interests of NS, its employees, customers or the public. Bigger does not make better, given the size of todays mega railroads.