Quote:

$36.78 billion will buy you a railroad and the freedom to run whatever trains you want, whenever you want.
Amtrak doesn't have it.

Isn't it interesting that Warren Buffett DOES have it. He lives in Omaha. His company, Berkshire Hathaway, is headquartered in Omaha. And when he decided to invest in a railroad, he did NOT select that big yellow machine that's headquartered in his hometown. That speaks volumes. I believe he once was quoted as saying that UP is a "mismanaged goldmine."

BNSF considers Amtrak one of its best customers. The two enjoy good relations and BNSF makes some extra bonus money from Amtrak by getting its trains over the road in a timely fashion. Heck, the train, the crew and the fuel are already furnished by Amtrak. The only thing BNSF has to do is furnish competent dispatching. UP, CSX and some others apparently can't see this forest because of the trees.

I, for one, understand completely why Warren Buffett invested in BNSF.