Michael Bourque, Railway Association of Canada: Facts - Not Politics - Should Shape Canada's Grain

[bucket]

Farmaholic

You realize the free market advocates have to huddle like socialists before they blitz these threads?

[Braveheart]

I think of myself a a free market advocate and I don't need to huddle with anyone. I doubt Hopalong does either.

The thing is, just complaining about the lack of rail accountability and efficiency won't fix anything. IF YOU FOCUS ON THE PROBLEM, THE PROBLEM GETS BIGGER. IF YOU FOCUS ON THE SOLUTION, THE SOLUTION GETS BIGGER.

So, what is the solution? Let's hear ideas AV'ers. More creative solutions than open running rights please, because that dog won't hunt.

[farmaholic]

Braveheart, just afew posts up are some solutions.

Ask Sasktel about the equivalent of open running rights. Other service providers were able to use their infrastructure to compete against them. How is it the ****ing sacred cow, aka Railroads, should be immune to competition?

[bucket]

I think Oliver88 hit the nail on the head.

As usual better reporting from all players.

Ordering cars months in advance that matches contracts signed.

Railways have to start putting money into their infrastructure for faster service.

The government has to be involved as either a regulator with teeth or as a service provider when others refuse.

Level of service agreements, what stage are they at? Government told me yesterday that's between graincos and railways. And no one is doing anything.

Contact the Chinese if they are willing to build another railway. That too will require government involvement.


Plenty of ideas have been presented on this forum and to government that ultimately has to make the changes by legislation. It's obvious this government won't. Sadly I vote for them.

[bucket]

Braveheart

I do not see any farm group putting solutions out there and most have said on this forum individuals don't count, they have to belong to a herd to be a validated idea.

And if the people in these organizations can't read the solutions on sites like this. Well I am sure you can see where the problems starts and why solutions don't get implemented.

[bucket]

Open running rights should be implemented asap.

I live near a line CP services. All points are the same grain co.

The last point on the line has a locomotive and a 112 car spot. They could shuttle cars from a point just outside of moose jaw from either major and service their points. Weekly regular service could be implemented.

There is an idea. Utilize all points in an effective way, provide regular service, move the grain, save the highways.

Oops I better go wrap up in tin foil again.

[Braveheart]

Open running rights, nothing would change. The new entrant would cherry pick the high tariff traffic and leave the rest.

Plus, its property that belongs to the railroad. Once you go down the road of confiscating property where does it stop? It's a slippery slope.

Expanded interswitching limits helps but doesn't infringe on property rights.

[farmaholic]

....ask Sasktel.

[bucket]

Ok let's talk interswitching. The cp line I talked about comes out of moose jaw and there is a cn connection somewhere nearby. It would fall within the new 160 km. Why doesn't the local call cn to service them ?

Because graincos won't force the issue. Neither will he government.

And the railways never built the lines or bought the land they sit on. It was a ****ing gift to ensure this country moved forward.

[bucket]

And Braveheart thanks for shitting on my idea.

That's a productive way to find solutions.