Again, for TWENTY YEARS CSX has been looking to sell the line to CP. FOR TWENTY YEARS CP has NOT been interested in owning the line. Why would they suddenly change their tune now? Especially in light of the current credit situation and economic prospects in Michigan?Chrisracer8903 wrote:Matt, if CSX wants to get rid of the lines so badly, why don't they give it all to CP? CSX wants to leave the line across Michigan, CP wants a line across Michigan, we have a solution!
I don't get where you think the CP wants to actually own a line across Michigan? They've had that option FOR TWENTY YEARS and are not interested. If they were, don't you think they would have done it by now? Especially when CSX was actively shopping so much track about 5 years ago (Fort Wayne Line, Buckingham Branch, etc)?
CP has been willing to put up with the 'beatings' they may take moving their traffic across Michigan either via the NS, CSX, or CN. Out of those options, CSX probably gave them the best treatment, because CP was about the only thing on the CSX across Michigan. They got royally hosed on the former GTW every day, and I'm sure the NS treatment isn't much better. CSX gets hosed at Porter, IN because they need to navigate the NS to get back to either the BRC or CSX rails at Curtis. This same bottle neck will exist for CP, except for one big difference, CP won't have any leverage with the NS. CSX needed a train moved, and NS wouldn't do it, then CSX holds up a NS move somewhere in the city.
"You want to run a train via the Porter Branch to the IHB? Naw, not until you move that X500 for us."
"You've got a van train to get across at 75th St to Landers? I dunno, I've got a big old hopper train I really need to move down to Barr because I have a window since you aren't taking that Q326 there at E. Curtis. Going to be quite a while getting across the diamond. You'll take Q326? As soon as you line him up at Curtis, I'll get that van train lined up."
So, ask yourself, why would CP want to buy a cow, when they get their milk for free? Their trains get moved, if they don't care how fast they get there, then they'll stick with what they have.
Practice Safe CSX