By incorporating Pan Am Systems, CSX is giving its PSR champions a juicy, low-hanging target to drive down O/R and still spare the rest of its already-there network.
Identifying the Real Competition CSX’s prospective acquisition of PAR presents an improvement in practically every aspect of New England’s rail industry. Simply by virtue of being a Class I railroad, they will certainly improve the track, rolling stock, operation, and reliability along every mile of the PAR/PAS network. They will connect New England shippers/receivers to […]
Competition will be enhanced by ensuring the independence and neutrality of PAS from CSXT as a means to reach New England rail shippers
In his Amended and Supplemented Verified Statement, William F. Huneke, former STB Chief Economist and a recognized consulting authority on railroad economics, presents his determination that Berkshire & Eastern (subsidiary of Genesee and Wyoming) will improve and enhance competition on the Pan Am Southern lines, as their dedicated contract operator. For Huneke’s discussion of four […]
Vermont Rail Systems and the Vermont Transportation Agency have raised some of the most serious objections to the proposed “merger” of PAR into CSX. Their primary concern is that, if G&W subsidiary Berkshire & Eastern is to be the operator of PAS, VRS will be “surrounded,” by G&W railroads at six of its seven gateways […]
01.July.2021, Washington DC — The introduction to the Amended and Supplemented Application includes a proposed schedule of proceedings for the Board’s determination of the CSX/PAR “merger,” assuming that this Application is accepted. PROPOSED SCHEDULE “Under the foregoing proposed schedule, this proceeding would take slightly less overall time than the schedule that was proposed by the Board […]
Rail share of freight tons handled in New England is just over 3%, considerably below the national average of 8%.
(Among the many new sections in the Amended and Supplemented Application is a detailed review of PAR-line marketing prospects by recently-appointed CSX EVP Mark Wallace, presented as a Verified Statement. This article intends to gather the key excerpts from the Verified Statement. – Ed.) CSXT’s Executive Vice President Mark Wallace’s marketing plan touches upon CSXT’s […]
CSX's 01.July Amended and Supplemented Application to acquire Pan Am Systems is ~330% bigger than the original 25.February "Minor" version, and more than twice as long as the 26.April "Significant" version.
02.July.2021, Washington DC — CSX’s Amended and Supplemented Application to acquire Pan Am Systems (the holding company of the various Pan Am Railways assets) is ~330% bigger than the original 25.February “Minor” version, and more than twice as long as the 26.April “Significant” version that were rejected by the STB (Decisions 2, 3). So, […]
The project is expected to take four years to design and five years to build at a cost of about $400 million.
21.June.2021, Boston MA – The MBTA awarded a contract for design and engineering planning of a ten-mile third track along the Worcester Line between Wellesley and Framingham. Earlier in the week (17.June), the MBTA and Newton MA mayor Ruthanne Fuller announced an agreement to proceed with design for major upgrades to the city’s decrepit Newtonville, […]
30.May.2021, Great Barrington MA – In a single day during the Memorial Day weekend, one of several Railworks crews in action along the Housatonic Line through Great Barrington MA replaced a little known bridge across from 151 Front St. The crews removed the bridge’s superstructure, made modifications to the abutments, and set the new superstructure […]
Giving New England's Class III railroads a stake in the revitalized rail network is not incompatible with CSX's strategic objective to complete a northeast land bridge between Port of Saint John NB and the interior.
On 25.May, the STB gave CSX a second Incomplete grade for its Application to acquire Pan Am Railways, forcing CSX to attend summer school and develop a third iteration of the Application to merge with Pan Am Railways. Will it yield the charm this proposed transaction desperately needs? The Board’s explanation of the ruling provides […]
