In response to Canadian National

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

So Canadian National is claiming that Amtrak is sugarcoating their argument that CN Neglects passenger service. Here’s what I have to say in response. if anyone needs proof, give me about a week. CN causes late trains at least once a week on Metra.

I’m sorry, But i can also relate CN neglecting trains with Metra. Many times I go out to watch trains on the CN Waukesha subdivision, they foul up traffic on the North Central Service and also can delay trains on the Milwaukee District North line, which intern causes later trains to be delayed due to “delayed arrival of equipment” Unless CN can furnish proo f that Amtrak is exaggerating, I’m on Amtraks side of the argument. I’m sorry, but CN should put passenger trains at top priority OVER their freight trains, regardless of their own on time performance.

2

Amtrak does not pay the dividends to CN’s shareholders, or otherwise add to CN’s profit line.

3

Freight over Passenger anyday.

4

Amtrak has straight forward data. When you examine the monthly performance reports they will show almost all months CN has the highest delay minutes per 10,000 miles of all RRs.

Another possible cause is most of senior management is in Canada . Their attitude is we can deal with Amtrak the same way we deal with VIA. Remember CN forced a 4th day for Toronto - Vancouver, BC trains.t

CN may get a nasty surprise when the FRA, DOT, Justice department gets through with them So far they have skated by with EJ&E buyout but the 2 combined may ???.

5

Remember next time you see E-Dot, about his wonderful plan to single track the main line. I see AMT delayed every day on #393. Had it still been two main lines, well that would not be happening. And to think he was railroader of the Century (or something like that).

6

Railroader of the Year, Ken…railroader of the Century would be a tough one…JJ Hill maybe… and some unsung heros who never made the history books might qualify too.

7

They way they fawned over him, you would swear he was God himself from Up High. In reality, all he did was smoke and mirrors.

8

No…that was Dave Fink of Pan Am

9

No, they did not fawn over Dave Fink, they pawned him. Only got a buck - three eighty.

10

But aren’t they paying trackage rights?

11

If CN/Metra had the cash to double the ramining track on the CN (aside from Deval Junction with that weird bridge) There wouldn’t be as many delays on the line. However, CN will most likely still foul up Metras Milwaukee District North line.

I can still remember when the whole line was single tracked, and only about…eight trains ran on the entire line under the “Metra North Central Riders Guide”

12

CN’s response reminds me of the tobacco companies regarding smoking in years past…

Just “What problem?” and “Look! Over there!”

Their talking points are:

  1. It really isn’t that bad.

  2. Other roads are bad, too.

  3. Amtrak caused delays are just as bad.

  4. Amtrak won’t pay us to fix things to make it less bad.

  5. We are trying. Really!

Amtrak has a pretty good argument in this case. It’s hard to see how CN could respond the way they did with a straight face.

I know that handling Amtrak trains can be a big pain in the neck for the freight railroads, but it appears that most try pretty hard, most of the time. Check out some of Fred Frailey’s blogs of action on CSX for some anecdotal evidence.