by CN9634
My thought is, if NS doesn't exercise whatever options it has to take full ownership (assuming it has that lever and does nothing), then by definition of a 50/50 ownership of PAS split between NS and CSX does it become defacto Conrail? The apparatus already exists in that fashion, so no need to setup something with additional overheads, SG&A ect.... surely you'll need some sales folks and train ops obviously, but beyond that the Conrail office can handle the rest. And again, you dont need proof of concept to the STB, you can literally put in the application, Pan Am Southern becomes Conrail and the Worcester - Keag line becomes CSX and they might spring on that knowing the point of Conrail is to balance the competition.