If any of the regionals in the USA were to turn into the eighth class 1 railroad, which railroad would it be and why?
IAIS for the reason that they are going gangbusters with Ethanol and other Ag Business. From what I am hearing have more trains schedulaed for Chicago getting ready to Start besides the 2 they run now. Rumor I am hearing from one of the Employees of it in the area.
Class 1 by whose definition? (AAR or FRA/DOT)
More than 2 trains running to Chicago? Not trying to knock the idea but my gut reaction was “That’s all?” Nothing personal Ed, just for the record.
What’s all out there that’s even close to something like KCS that isn’t gobbled up already?
My source with them has been a Counductor for 15 years and has never mislead me. They are thinking of 6-8 trains a day into Chicago if they can get CSX to let them have the track time from roughly Utica into Chcago. I do not see why it would be a Problem since CSX only has 1 train a day each way to Ottawa on that line.
Lots of railroads probably qualify by FRA’s standards (that class 1 track is something to really aspire to, eh, MC?)!
This whole thread makes it sound like one of those television shows, like there are a bunch of nominees to join the ranks of Iron Chef…I mean, Class 1 railroads, and that somehow one contestant will beat out the rest of them to deserve the rating. I don’t know what the revenue criterion is any more, but I don’t think anything that isn’t already a Class 1 is in the running any more.
I seem to recall one or possibly two railroads in the past (WC for sure, maybe DME or MRL) turning down the “honor” because of the paperwork that goes with it.
I know one of them is their CBBI *(Counsel Bluffs-Blue Island) manifest, with intermodal placed in there. Who knows, maybe they sturck a deal with a trucking company and might start piggyback service instead of just intermodal stack.
Considering that the minimum annual operating revenues for a Class I carrier is $250 million, I don’t think that any road other than the existing Class I’s is close to the cutoff.