BNSF Railway (BNSF) is planning to invest $100m in Minnesota and $86m in North Dakota for railway maintenance, capacity improvements and expansion projects in 2012.This is what I wrote May 25, 2012:
a) the industry can't build tank cars fast enoughThe BNSF story (second link above):
b) the rails were not meant to handle this much traffic; there will be need for more tracks and lot more maintenance
Under the project, BNSF will upgrade rail sidings to increase speed, as well as improve a US government-mandated positive train control (PTC) system.Anyway, go to the link. It's absolutely incredible all that BNSF will be doing to improve the system.
The investment will also be used for a track maintenance programme in Minnesota, which will include 1,817 miles of surfacing and undercutting work, as well as the replacement of 42 miles of rail and 325,000 ties.
I found it interesting the amount that will be spent in Minnesota.
Williston Wireline has the story and that's where I found it.
1. Coal trains are way down. Natural gas for power is the reason.
ReplyDelete2. Old but interesting: http://www.platts.com/IM.Platts.Content/InsightAnalysis/IndustrySolutionPapers/NewCrudesNewMarkets.pdf Good map on p. 7.
3. When will Eagle Ford pass Bakken? Early 2013, I predict.
4. Where would the economy be without oil and gas? Disaster.
5. Boom. From the godfather. http://www.torontosun.com/2012/06/22/green-drivel
anon 1
As usual, a great post.
DeleteIt seems I've seen that story about the "grandfather" before, his concerns that the movement had become a "religion." Nice to see that he is willing to speak his mind.
He is not the only one who has said wind cannot possibly scale up to come anywhere near to meeting global energy demands.
I could ramble for quite some time. I will just let the story (and your comment) stand "as is." Thank you for taking time to post/comment.
Oh, I agree with you about the Eagle Ford. It will be interesting to see if south Texas can ramp up that fast; the infrastructure is not there (as it was in North Dakota) and the Williston Basin was much better understood. The enormity of the Eagle Ford will outweigh those "negatives."
And then there is that pesky issue of availability of water for fracking.
DeleteCrager
In Texas, not North Dakota.
Delete