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Re: Restored Amtrak Service To Vegas? Don't Hold Your Breath!
Author: Erik H.
Date: 06-29-2010 - 14:58
"And when he decided to invest in a railroad"
He bought UNP, NSC and BNI stock. Just before BRK purchased BNI, BRK owned close to 10 million shares of UNP stock. That holding was sold - after all, owning one of the two western railroads outright and a chunk of another would not look good to regulators. I believe, however, that BRK still owns the stake in NSC.
"BNSF considers Amtrak one of its best customers"
Um, yeah, right. BNSF tolerates Amtrak at best, only because it is an efficient machine and having "one a day" doesn't impact BNSF as much.
UP, on the other hand, is still trying to fix the poorly executed UP/SP/SSW/DRGW merger of 1996 - 14 years later, it is still trying to fix it. ATSF + BN, in comparison, was quite the well-rehearsed orchestra.
Another way to look at it: BNSF is looking forward; you do not see much to celebrate the heritage of the predecessor roads; BNSF doesn't have a steam program, or a corporate museum, or a heritage locomotive program. It's all about moving forward (and thus their new corporate logo). UP is all about the past and its heritage. While great for railfans, they have stumbled on current execution. Amtrak is just a rock thrown into the unoiled machine - it's no wonder UP doesn't want anything to do with Amtrak.
He bought UNP, NSC and BNI stock. Just before BRK purchased BNI, BRK owned close to 10 million shares of UNP stock. That holding was sold - after all, owning one of the two western railroads outright and a chunk of another would not look good to regulators. I believe, however, that BRK still owns the stake in NSC.
"BNSF considers Amtrak one of its best customers"
Um, yeah, right. BNSF tolerates Amtrak at best, only because it is an efficient machine and having "one a day" doesn't impact BNSF as much.
UP, on the other hand, is still trying to fix the poorly executed UP/SP/SSW/DRGW merger of 1996 - 14 years later, it is still trying to fix it. ATSF + BN, in comparison, was quite the well-rehearsed orchestra.
Another way to look at it: BNSF is looking forward; you do not see much to celebrate the heritage of the predecessor roads; BNSF doesn't have a steam program, or a corporate museum, or a heritage locomotive program. It's all about moving forward (and thus their new corporate logo). UP is all about the past and its heritage. While great for railfans, they have stumbled on current execution. Amtrak is just a rock thrown into the unoiled machine - it's no wonder UP doesn't want anything to do with Amtrak.
