CSX Melting Down

[Ericmopar]

Personally, I think it's a ruse.
I think Harrison wants the company to go bankrupt, so they can finally merge it with another class 1 and, or sell off the company's assets piecemeal.
As far as Government regulation, deregulating keeps causing more issues than it helps, because it enables these super greedy nitwits into stupidity.
Most regulations are put into place because corporations will cut anything, to the point of fatalities, illnesses etc. In fact the railroad industry has historically been one of the worst in that regard in the past.
The only exception to that is PTC, I think that is a joke. I think it's even more of a joke that no one specified a universal system of communication standards, between trains using PTC.

[buzz456]

Konspiracy from Kalifornia?

[TheOldDessauer]

The drama continues at CSX:SEATTLE (Reuters) - CSX Corp Chief Executive Hunter Harrison has apologized to customers for service disruptions that he blamed on resistance from some of the railroad's employees...

The only "resistance" is coming from the inertia of the railcars because there aren't enough locomotives to pull them....

[bpetit]

Personally, I think it's a ruse.
I think Harrison wants the company to go bankrupt, so they can finally merge it with another class 1 and, or sell off the company's assets piecemeal.
As far as Government regulation, deregulating keeps causing more issues than it helps, because it enables these super greedy nitwits into stupidity.
Most regulations are put into place because corporations will cut anything, to the point of fatalities, illnesses etc. In fact the railroad industry has historically been one of the worst in that regard in the past.
The only exception to that is PTC, I think that is a joke. I think it's even more of a joke that no one specified a universal system of communication standards, between trains using PTC.

Hmm. I hope the STB or FRA sees it before it is too late. Assets would probably go to CP.

[NStrains]

CSX just can't catch a break right now. They will supposedly start detouring some of their stack trains via the NS Pittsburgh Line.

http://www.wearecentralpa.com/news/gove ... /781430833

[buzz456]

They have a pretty strong financial picture with earnings something North of a billion seven. I don't think they are going broke anytime soon. As far as mergers who knows in this crazy industry.

[BNSFdude]

The only exception to that is PTC, I think that is a joke. I think it's even more of a joke that no one specified a universal system of communication standards, between trains using PTC.

I think PTC is a good thing, which coming from a craft employee, should be surprising.

It keeps us from killing or getting killed by lapses in concentration that come from the strenuous hours we work.

[TheOldDessauer]

From Railway Age

Monday, August 07, 2017
CSX union tells Harrison: Don't blame us
Written by Stuart Chirls, Senior Editor

A CSX transportation union is pushing back against comments by President and Chief Executive Hunter Harrison, who recently blamed employees in part for the railroad’s service problems.

"The pace of change at CSX has been extremely rapid," Harrison wrote August 1 in a letter of apology to customers, "and while most people at the company have embraced the new plan, unfortunately, a few have pushed back and continue to do so. This resistance to change has resulted in some service disruptions."

In an August 3 letter to Harrison obtained by Railway Age, SMART, the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, which represents CSX operating employees, wrote, “The Organization refuses to accept responsibility for disruptions that negatively affect the customers when we have no input on operational changes. We receive minimal, and in most cases, no communication from any department about the significant changes being implemented almost daily.”

In the letter signed by SMART’s five co-chairmen, the union said Harrison had ignored its repeated requests to be involved in planning changes.

The union called Harrison’s comments “a personal attack,” “a kick to the gut,” and “a severe blow to [employees’] morale.” It also called out CSX for “harsh treatment, furloughs and repeated violations of their collective bargaining agreement.” It did not elaborate.

In a July 21 blog entry, Railway Age Editor-in-Chief William Vantuono quoted an engineering department employee as saying that CSX had changed work hours from four 10-hour days to five eight-hour days to reduce train delays, but making it more difficult for employees working far from home to get to work and back in a reasonable length of time.

SMART went on to deny Harrison’s charge that its members intentionally disrupted operations.

“This organization will not allow our members to serve as an excuse for management’s inability to communicate and execute your ‘precision scheduled railroading’.

CSX did not immediately comment on the letter.

[buzz456]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ ... story.html

[JohnS]

It's getting closer and closer to Michigan. CSX has already effected our car numbers and there has always been the loom of CSX pulling out of Michigan all together. We still aren't sure how or who it could possibly go to. Also, we lease our operating rights from CSX so they could start selling off the leased properties. This is all speculation since nothing has been said about Michigan yet but the guys at CSX are ticked since they are losing places to go during their furloughs with the other furloughs so close to us. I guess time will tell. Until then, as long as I'm still getting a paycheck I'm still working.

[TheOldDessauer]

Harrison bluntly dismisses shipper group’s concerns about CSX service
By Bill Stephens | August 17, 2017 Trains Newswire


JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Transportation CEO E. Hunter Harrison fired back at a shipper group on Wednesday, saying that the Rail Customer Coalition was using the railroad’s service issues as an excuse to further its longstanding regulatory reform goals.

The coalition, an umbrella group for nearly four dozen trade associations representing manufacturing, agricultural, energy, and retail industries, on Monday urged Congress to prod the Surface Transportation Board to launch an investigation of what it called widespread service disruptions at CSX.

The coalition also asked Congress to push the STB to adopt new rules for reciprocal switching, a long-sought regulatory remedy that would allow a second railroad access to certain captive shippers.

Harrison said the coalition’s letter contained “many unfounded and grossly exaggerated statements...related to the service experienced by some customers as we implement Precision Scheduled Railroading, which has a proven history and long track record of delivering superior transportation services for customers.”

The shipper group did not bring its concerns to CSX before writing Congress, Harrison wrote, “most likely because your statements were made to advance your longstanding attack on the balanced approaches of the Staggers Act.”

Shippers will benefit from the new CSX operating plan, Harrison insists.
“The changes we are implementing today will deliver measurable improvements in key service metrics, resulting in our customers’ freight moving more consistently, reliably, and cost efficiently across the CSX network,” he wrote.

But he acknowledged that operational changes have produced service problems.

“In the midst of our efforts, there have been some unfortunate disruptions to our service, which we are addressing aggressively,” Harrison wrote. The railroad is addressing customers’ concerns while it works to improve communication with shippers, he wrote.

What CSX will not do, Harrison said, is talk about service with the Rail Customer Coalition.

“Since coalitions do not have service issues, we do not intend to continue a discussion with you about the service we provide to our customers,” he wrote.
Harrison did say that CSX would be happy to discuss “other completely unrelated topics like reciprocal switching, which are more central to your agenda.”

Harrison said CSX would continue to work with the STB, which on Monday ordered the railroad to provide detailed operations metrics every week so that it could better monitor its service recovery efforts.

“We welcome the engagement of the expert Surface Transportation Board staff and respect their authority,” Harrison wrote in his letter, which was addressed to the Rail Customer Coalition in care of Cal Dooley, who heads the American Chemistry Council.

[ZekTheKid]

Ok, now that I'm sure CSX is on the road to failure with Harrison, what does one do if you live by one of CSX's lines?

[ET44C4]

I need to get out and capture some CSX before who knows what happens. The only thing about the local CSX line here is that it is just about dead.

[buzz456]

I repeat CSX is a long way from 'failure' if you are talking about money. I doubt the directors will have a lot of patience if the profits start to go South. I'll keep watching and report back quarterly for y'all.

[ZekTheKid]

I repeat CSX is a long way from 'failure' if you are talking about money. I doubt the directors will have a lot of patience if the profits start to go South. I'll keep watching and report back quarterly for y'all.

Not money, but in terms of customer satisfaction. Harrison can go to blame the customers of CSX, but not every problem is always their fault. Plus, he does have a part in all these complaints, and he can't just straight out say "Nope, that's you're problem" without having any backup info or even justification that it was the customer's fault.