Crude-By-Rail -- A Random Note

Comment/reply at recent Mike Filloon article on the Bakken:

Here's the comment:

Do you know much about the rail services in the region? I'm wondering if UNP or KSU (or CNI or CP) stand to benefit the most. I suppose this is mostly a short-term situation for the rails, but it would be interesting to see if any new rail is being laid, as well. Personally, I don't see this new crude going away anytime soon... 

And Mike's reply:

I am not real sure which stands to benefit the most, but I do know [crude-by-rail] is not a short term situation. Midstream companies wont put in pipelines until they know they have enough production to fill it. I believe that the rails will continue this for several years at least, but a more likely situation will be at least a decade. This only holds true if WTI trades at a decent discount to Brent which I also believe will continue.