CSX Acquisition of Pan Am Railways

Goddraug wrote: ↑Thu Jun 06, 2024 8:57 pm I don't know the best place to post this but comments about the scrapyard in Everett has been posted here before. I saw a video on the scrapping of some MBTA Single Level cars at the Coke Works facility, which also said that rumors abound claiming it's the last scrap move to Everett. Can anyone confirm or deny this rumor?

There are still plenty retired single level cars in fitchburg yard waiting to be scrapped, so likely not. Also, link the video please I would like to watch

Only four coaches went to Everett for scrap. All the other stored coaches's fate is up in the air. I have heard there will be an attempt to sell off some of them.

As for the scrap yard, they continue to be serviced by CSX.

D

newpylong wrote: ↑Thu Jun 06, 2024 8:22 pm Keolis received a letter from CSX this week requesting 60 MPH and 12,000 foot train capacity on all MBTA trackage. Read, PTC changes required.

They want to run 60 from LJ to Rigby because the track is already good for it. Their ultimate goal is single crew between Selkirk to Rigby. Seems crazy especially with the aforementioned P&W slowdown.

How long until we learn if this desire pans out for CSX? Are operating agreement details for MBTA freight rights published anywhere?

If they get it then the freight trains will be running faster than the Commuter Rail trains!

They would not. They would obviously only go 60 on Class 4 track where Keolis is going 60-79.

I'm told CSX is looking for 49MPH when possible in District 1 after major trackwork is complete.

And south of there in CTC MAS 60 MPH from Plaistow to Royal by the end of the year is what they are saying. Believe it when I see it but that's what they're telling the stakeholders.

Once again the Everett Industrial area is being threatened with development. The newest plan skirts around the CSX tracks but does include the docks just below the small rail yard and the scrap business. This area isn't very conducive to residential or commercial use so maybe a rail/ship served facility of some sort could be built there? Massport has always said they need a heavy/oversized cargo transfer ability. This would be a possible use but probably wishful thinking although the State did give CSX an IRAP grant to improve the line.

The Davis Companies has presented early stage plans for redevelopment of a 100+ acre development site in Everett. The developer acquired the property in December 2023 for $72,500,000. The proposed Everett Docklands Innovation District aims to facilitate the transformation of the former oil terminal into an innovative and mixed-use neighborhood for the future. Per the project filings "this once in a generation project intends to transform a heavily contaminated site into brand new neighborhood with innovative uses." Plans show the site divided into 2 subdistricts with a wide mix of building types.

https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews ... -progress/

This will be the agreement the conductors will vote on to replace the ST agreements.

Trains wrote:The tentative agreements announced yesterday and today – and reached more than four months before national contracts could be amended – cover more than a quarter of CSX’s workforce. The unions include the TCU, the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, the American Trains Dispatchers Association, SMART-TD and the SMART Mechanical Division. The SMART-TD contract proposal covers conductors working in former Conrail, Baltimore & Ohio, and Pan Am Railways territory.

The five-year deals, which still must be ratified by the rank and file, include average wage increases of 3.5% per year as well as improvements in paid vacation and health care. If ratified, the agreements will provide certainty for the railroad and its workers. They also include the protection of so-called “me too” provisions that would allow the railroad and unions to revisit the agreements if national contracts differ significantly.

And here's some news that many people will be glad to read:

Trains wrote:CSX’s talks with SMART-TD did not include a controversial topic that was a stumbling block to the last round of national negotiations: Shifting conductors to ground-based positions and adopting engineer-only operation in certain situations.

“It wasn’t on the agenda. It’s not something we’ve been pursuing. And I think we need more advancement in technology and in other areas before we have that conversation,” Hinrichs says.

The Federal Railroad Administration this year adopted a rule that would require two people in the cab of freight trains, but the Association of American Railroads is challenging the rule in federal court.

The tentative agreements and demise of the one-person crew issue should help CSX attract new employees in hard-to-hire locations. “One of the obstacles we were seeing in ‘21 and ‘22 in hiring was the uncertainty around the contract and importantly, the overhang of this single-person crew debate because you hire conductors mostly, and they were the ones that were being discussed,” Hinrichs says. “So getting that noise out of the way and over with is very helpful.”

Source: https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews ... -progress/

The more I learn about Hinrichs, the more I'm pleasantly surprised. It appears he's not cast from the same mold as Jim Foote or Hunter Harrison, which is good news for everyone.

Messrs. Maine Central and Newpy, I think some clarification need be presented.

First, a small point; the union representing Train Dispatchers is the American Train Dispatchers Association, or the ATDA. It is one union that upholds the industry tradition of representation along craft lines, and not some, to use a word in the union's lexicon, amalgamation, of various crafts, rail and otherwise, under one roof.

Now, from the ATDA site, I've learned that employees of the G&W Berkshire & Eastern, will also be governed by the same noted agreement that has been submitted to Chessie's employees systemwide for ratification.

In short, it appears Springfield Terminal will soon be "dead and buried".

There is a spot mention of the acquisition in this video with Joe Hinrichs at 24:00 or so in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gux0s89pxWg

All I gotta say is listening to this guy is a breath of fresh air. I have never heard a CEO that seems to get it like this.

I won't go into a full anti PSR rant, but the new CEO understands the problems. We are short staffed in Selkirk again, and borrow outs are back. It's mainly because the old PSR regime did not plan ahead, to have a plan with a known retirement point. They just didn't care.

The new CEO understands that the labor market in the Northeast is competitive, and that that you can't treat the operating personal like we don't matter. People will just go elsewhere, and the surveys mentioned are real.

I also like that the CSX esprit de corps is coming back, NS is the enemy! I'm joking but it's kind of real too. CSX will spend big money for control, and the Framingham pair will be going over the Ag or Fitchburg branch, I don't know the name I'm not qualified yet.

Fully under CSX control and standards as stated by the CEO in this video, no more dealing with the P&W dispatcher in St. Albans., or Keolis holding us from taking head room for a commuter train that is not due to leave Worcester for another half an hour.

Let's just hope that CSX can keep the hedge fund "activist investors" (aka 'give me mine now and screw the company for the long term') at bay until the problems get straightened out (and then some).

Wonder if Saint John will pick up some additional business if the dock strike materializes? CSX/New England may get a bit busy.