Hello,
One other thought, spurred by the CN strike, but more related to the recent announcement that CP is (re)buying the CMQ ...
Given that almost all traffic to the United States on SLR was grinding to a halt with the loss of the CN connection (due to the strike) even though the CMQ connection at Lennoxville was still active ...
There is almost no traffic from CMQ and, via CMQ, CP that moves east on the SLR into the United States. Almost all of the traffic that moves to Island Pond and points east arrives via CN and their connections to the south and west (NS, CSX, UP, BNSF, and, yes, even CP). I would guess at least 90% and probably more than 95% of the eastbound traffic arrives via CN. As far as I know, any eastbound traffic from CP and CMQ is for local customers on SLR, and no traffic is currently routed from CP to ST via CMQ and SLR (which seems reasonable given their direct connection in New York state).
However, there is a fairly healthy interchange of traffic between SLQ and CMQ at Lennoxville, which may represent two "lanes": 1) traffic from CN that is being delivered to CMQ and 2) traffic from CMQ and presumably CP that is being delivered to SLQ for local customers in Quebec (e.g. Domtar, Kruger, etc.).
With CP (re)buying the CMQ, there is the possibility that first "lane" of traffic would be lost, as CN could directly interchange traffic to CP in the Montreal region, rather than via SLQ. It seems likely that the second "lane " of traffic would remain.
Thus, I wonder if this change in ownership will have only minimal impacts on SLR. Any corrections or other insights would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Fritz