Danny McCarty, Protection Kansas asked, "why does it make any difference to BNSF or any other railroad where a 110 car train comes from. Why can’t a shortline like ours get the same breaks"

BNSF Representative pointed that it simply wasn’t that easy. " First, all the cars have to be going to the same destination and going to the same and needed there at the same time. BNSF has supplied several different rates/tariffs for "local shuttle trains" where 100 cars can be used."

Charlie Swayze, Medicine Lodge, asked why does it cost $20.00 more a car to get cars from BNSF then it does CKR. "The CKR claims that they never have cars, while over in Kiowa, you have at least 20-50."

BNSF: That is correct, we do not have a car shortage. The reason that our cars may cost more is that we ensure that if you order them, that you get them.

Another co-op owner pointed out another issue that the majority co-op owners all agreed on. Basically, after they load the cars out, CKR doesn’t pick the cars up for several days or in some cases weeks. The CKR representative didn’t comment.

BNSF: WE CERTAINLY DON"T HAVE THAT PROBLEM. You load them, we will pick them up immediately. On co-loading, we make arrangements {in some cases or all?} that the power stays with cars. The co-loaders have 15-18 hours to load the cars.

Ex-CKR XXXXXXX, stood up an explained that CKR did have the capabilities to get pick up a series of cars, load them, and return them too. He cited the case of Wilmore Kansas where 60 grains cars were loaded and shipped in about 2 ½ days. However, the rest of the story that wasn’t cited here, was that never again will grain be shipped from that elevator. Why? Because it was bought by a grain company to the north, who is co-loading on the Union Pacific.

Detouring 120 Miles = Efficiency??
An interested party finally pointed out the current folly of abandoning the Wichita to Kingman line, which was approved by KDOT via additional funding. The following is a summarization of his remarks: I would like to know why KDOT is assisting in the abandoning of a rail line. Why is it that the CKR has been approved to abandon a direct route to Kingman, and is instead going to establish trackage that has already been abandon and build 4 miles of new track? Why is KDOT saying that a bridge, that is class 1 bridge, being ripped up. Did you know, based upon my research, that no railway bridge has ever been scrapped because it was causing flooding? Did you know through the efforts of KDOT and the CKR that Kansas will be the first state ever to do such a thing? And how in the name of efficiency can you tell anyone that going 120 miles on a detour through southwest Kansas is more efficient for anyone?

The KDOT official had little comment, as did the representatives.