CPF363 wrote:CN9634 wrote:Why the hell would CN be willing to do such a thing?
From the What's next for MMA? Topic, Page 18, Fri Oct 11, 2013 1:53 am:
CN9634 wrote:Not all are railroads. Some are financial holding companies. IE another Iron roads. CN I would not rule out for a second. Given the Four large trestles in NB that will need major work in the next twenty years, CN is looking for a LONG-TERM solution. If they get MMA and eventually, NBSR, they would eliminate huge operating costs to Halifax via Saint John and Moncton. Moncton to QC is a huge bridge line they want to get rid of.
If CN was successful in acquiring the MM&A, you are suggesting they would look to route their Maritime Provinces bound freight across Maine verses using their other two owned lines into New Brunswick to the point of looking even to close their Moncton to QC huge bridge line. Which of the two is CN looking to get rid of; St. André Jct. to Moncton via Saint-Leonard, or the Intercolonial Railway line via Matapédia? I should have suggested Fortress and NBSR offer some kind of a haulage agreement with CN to haul their cars between Montreal and Saint John on a shorter, more direct route across Maine verses going around Maine on the longer routes through Moncton.
Well they are officially divesting themselves of a critical section of the line between Moncton and Campbelton, so they really will have only one line. When the next derailments happens on CN, they will have to use the Fortress-NBSR line, or sit on their thumbs a few days while they repair the line (Which most likely won't be the case). I'm just saying, the cost of fixing those large trestles compared to picking up the former MMA line, with some sort of agree in place with NBS may have been worth looking at. The former-MMA line does have some nice long sidings, but a CTC/ABS system would have to be reinstated in the line and that wouldn't be cheap.
It will be interesting to see what happens with CN in the future with only one line around Maine and a steady number of derailments of their super trains. I would risk a opinion, that the CN DPU trains reaching lengths of 14K 15K is of similar mindset to the MMA operating one man crews.... reduce operating costs per train over a long, geographically intense, bridge line. Should Fortress pursue the oil traffic, or find a way to make 100+ car trains, they should consider the DPU option. After all, this is the reason why the MMA didn't run loaded oil trains over 80 cars.
Also, the reason I went after your statement (no offense) was that you implied CN would willingly give up traffic to a competitor. I honestly can't see any reason why CN would consider such an action unless they benefitted incredibly.