If you’ve been reading my blog for awhile, you’ve heard me say many, many times that the Kellar Branch provides neutral access to eight rail lines, whereas the western spur only has access to one — Union Pacific — and that this means service over the western spur will always be more expensive because there’s no competition.  So this letter to the editor from Carver Lumber Co. should come as no surprise:

We receive deliveries only two days per week, a 60 percent reduction from when the Kellar branch was operating.

It takes two to four times longer to get cars delivered from Downtown to our yard than it did over the Kellar branch.

Because the Union Pacific is not required to publish a rate, our suppliers must use its general tariff rate for forest products, which adds $1,000-$1,500 per car over Kellar line rates.

Carver goes on to hope that the city will help negotiate a better arrangement with UP.  That’s not going to happen.  First of all, the city has demonstrated that it’s not concerned about Carver at all (not enforcing its contract with DOT Rail, wanting to tear up the Kellar Branch before verifying Carver has comparable service via the west, etc.), and even if they were concerned, they have no bargaining power with UP.

The city should immediately start negotiating with Pioneer Railcorp to sell the Kellar Branch line.  If they want to continue pursuing the trail, they should build it side-by-side with the rail line.