Any one deliver to Northgate?

[wmoebis]

We have hauled quite a bit there since they opened. Things have got smoother as they finished construction, although the new Koch fert bins are now being built. No rail from Canada now , as the original line that ran south from Frobisher was pulled out some years ago after no traffic in my memory. The line that ran to the General Mills elevator on the ND side was extended back into Canada again.

Seems silly to me when looking at RR map that N gate is connected by rail to every area and just about every state to deliver grain. But not one line to deliver product to the site.

[Grahamp]

I am surprised how you all seem to like them. I was very hopeful that they would bring an aggressive wheat bid but have been very disappointed at their bids so far. Maybe I need to call and talk to them directly but their daily email wheat bid leaves me surprised they are handling any wheat at all.

[jamesb]

Interesting thing for me too is that since Ceres bought part of Steward Southern Rail that runs from Regina to Stoughton, two more companies are building special crops plants along that railway. There has been lots of work on that line the past few years. Years ago I had one plant at Filmore that I could haul to, Now within a short time I have 5 plants (including the Saskcan plant at Regina just off 33) that I can deliver to. That's progress IMO.

[boarderbloke]

I don't think CNR or CPR have any intention to connect to the BNSF.

It would be great if a short line would connect Stoughton to Northgate, there is a path with right of way still existing, but part of it is still being used by CNR(Carlyle to Lampman), which they still move crude and frack sand on.
It would go, Stoughton to Carlyle(not sure about the right of way for that short way), then to Lampman, Frobisher, Northgate.

[wmoebis]

I don't think CNR or CPR have any intention to connect to the BNSF.

It would be great if a short line would connect Stoughton to Northgate, there is a path with right of way still existing, but part of it is still being used by CNR(Carlyle to Lampman), which they still move crude and frack sand on.
It would go, Stoughton to Carlyle(not sure about the right of way for that short way), then to Lampman, Frobisher, Northgate.

Isn't that where the Gov'ts could step in and expropriate for the good of Canada? Since the last gov't had no foresight when allowing it to go ahead.

[boarderbloke]

wmoebi, If the government expropriated the land then what? operate it as a Government shortline? auction it to the highest bidder, even if the sale is at a loss?

Your thinking to logically, a shipping route direct to the U.S.A. would not please central and eastern Canada. They want our goods to have to pass through their jurisdictions because they benefit from it, by jobs or taxes, both of which devalue our products.

A connecting rail line would benefit Ceres little(more so if the fertilizer could be railed further into Canada), perhaps it would benefit BNSF with more traffic, maybe they should buy up the right of way, but the rail line reconstruction would be enormous even if there was right of way existing.

[wmoebis]

wmoebi, If the government expropriated the land then what? operate it as a Government shortline? auction it to the highest bidder, even if the sale is at a loss?

Your thinking to logically, a shipping route direct to the U.S.A. would not please central and eastern Canada. They want our goods to have to pass through their jurisdictions because they benefit from it, by jobs or taxes, both of which devalue our products.

A connecting rail line would benefit Ceres little(more so if the fertilizer could be railed further into Canada), perhaps it would benefit BNSF with more traffic, maybe they should buy up the right of way, but the rail line reconstruction would be enormous even if there was right of way existing.

Open running rights like airport runway. Make it like a 2 lane highway if there is loaded traffic both ways. If not make heavy track for loads one way and light other for empties. The savings on highways will pay for it over time, maybe short time. User pay just like airport. We are not talking a whole Canadian RR network just connector to existing system.