by rrfoose
So I have a what-if question...but it's not the usual "could the EL have survived on its own if it didn't go into Conrail" that always pops up. I've seen and participated in many of those and know the facts and theories.
However, my question is... IF the EL hadn't gone into Conrail, but instead merged with former DERECO partners D&H and B&M, could that have made a viable system? Obviously this didn't happen..so I'm not concerned about the ability of such a merger to actually occur. But from a financial standpoint, could this system have made it into today?
I doubt one would see EL as a big player in Chicago-NYC freight, but they could be competitive into New England by partnering with NS and CSX before the CR split, and NS afterwards. However, by turning the western part of the system into a built-for intermodal route, they could focus on hauling trailers and containers on a fast schedule, and use the eastern part of the system to gain carload traffic to pay the bills.
Lastly, if a combined system were to pick up MEC and the ex-CP lines that are now New Brunswick Southern, EL could potentially haul run-through intermodel from St John-Chicago to the Santa Fe. This would bypass Boston's lack of capacity and the busy ports around NYC. Sure, Halifax is huge for CN today, but this could be a reason to expand St John and create a new super-port.
And with that, hopefully my question is unusual enough to not draw the usual responses and criticisms. Thanks!
However, my question is... IF the EL hadn't gone into Conrail, but instead merged with former DERECO partners D&H and B&M, could that have made a viable system? Obviously this didn't happen..so I'm not concerned about the ability of such a merger to actually occur. But from a financial standpoint, could this system have made it into today?
I doubt one would see EL as a big player in Chicago-NYC freight, but they could be competitive into New England by partnering with NS and CSX before the CR split, and NS afterwards. However, by turning the western part of the system into a built-for intermodal route, they could focus on hauling trailers and containers on a fast schedule, and use the eastern part of the system to gain carload traffic to pay the bills.
Lastly, if a combined system were to pick up MEC and the ex-CP lines that are now New Brunswick Southern, EL could potentially haul run-through intermodel from St John-Chicago to the Santa Fe. This would bypass Boston's lack of capacity and the busy ports around NYC. Sure, Halifax is huge for CN today, but this could be a reason to expand St John and create a new super-port.
And with that, hopefully my question is unusual enough to not draw the usual responses and criticisms. Thanks!