BNSF Meeting

by Paul Mangelsdorf
President
PaulM@TexasRailAdvocates.org

Subject: Report on Meeting with Matt Rose, CEO BNSF

Matt proved to be friendly and open in our first meeting with him and Pete Rickershauser, Vice President, Network Development.

After Paul's  brief introduction about our work on the corridor issue and what we had been doing Matt gave us some input from the BNSF perspective.

On the matter of the Trans Texas Corridor, he said it's a grand vision. He mentioned commuter operations saying that "'people talk-freight,' doesn't talk". (BNSF operates commuter service from the Chicago suburbs into the city).

He noted the income from Amtrak was about 1% of the company's earnings. Our protest was that the people factor is noteworthy, akin to when the railroads had community presence - something they have lost with centralized (remote) operations - Fort Worth/Omaha etc. He brought up Glenn Scammel (house railroad committee staff). I relayed my recent DC visit and Glenn's comments that TxDOT must seek funds from the Swift High Speed Rail Development Act. He agreed and also said that we must get Senator Hutchison involved in the earmark process. When the Corridor brochure is finished and the ground swell is moving along she should be more interested. Rose committed to visiting this Corridor issue in his next meeting with the Union Pacific railroad. He also recommended following up Joe Adams at Union Pacific so that he is aware of the heightened interest.

Matt did mention California in the context of passenger operations. The names of Judge Nelson Wolfe in San Antonio and Bruce Fhlor were mentioned. They are recommended contacts.

The topic of intercity passenger service was touched on when I commented that the intermediate corridor markets were the most promising for the future. Peter LeCody mentioned that Amtrak's President, David Gunn, agreed. Matt looked at the Atlanta Chamber's South East Brochure without comment. Copies of our Case For the South Central High Speed Rail Corridor were left for their perusal.

We discussed the challenge of funding the corridor when multiple railroads would be seeking the benefits and the fact Union Pacific  has a significantly larger presence on the South Central Corridor. Pete Rickershauser brought up the Fort Worth congestion issues with a possible Fort Worth and Western Railroad bypass as a long shot due to NIMBY syndrome but both seized on the benefits of Tower 55 grade separation. It would certainly be an improvement that everyone could be on board with. Also noted was the BNSF line south of DFW to Midlothian and the Oklahoma City-Fort Worth corridor.

Rose noted that the Corridor needs a champion in addition to Dr. Burgess and other local politicians. John Radovich touched on the January seminar but there wasn't enough time to elaborate on the events planned.