UPS/USPS/FedEx/DHL

rnizlek Nov 9, 2006

  1. rnizlek

    rnizlek New Member

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    I know UPS is one of BSNF's largest intermodal customers and forwards a tremendous portion of its daily ground shipping volume over rail. However, I have never seen any information on whether FedEx/DHL/USPS engage in this practice and to what extent. Anyone have an answer?

    Thanks!
     
  2. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    rnizlek-

    Welcome to TrainBoard!

    In my area, DHL barely has a presence. So no ideas there. I'd wonder if Fedex moves anything by rail? Good question. Don't recall them being mentioned.

    Nothing USPS by rail in my area. It's all air, or truck. But seems to me some of the slow, bulky stuff may be by rail. At least it's that slow... Anyone?

    :D

    Boxcab E50
     
  3. Charlie

    Charlie TrainBoard Member

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    Yup AMTRAK does operate some mail trains.

    Charlie
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 12, 2006
  4. cajon

    cajon TrainBoard Member

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    Thought Amtrak was out of any kind of frieght biz including mail with one exception. A shipper that Amtrak must still service because of a contract.
     
  5. rnizlek

    rnizlek New Member

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    I thought I heard somewhere that Amtrak did some first class mail on between Chicago and Minneapolis/St. Paul still. I could be completely wrong, though, and have no idea if they move any mail anywhere else.
     
  6. cajon

    cajon TrainBoard Member

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    What I said below was as of now, not what used to be. Amtrak used to carry alot of mail & frieght. There was even talk of Southwest Chief going to 45 cars!
     
  7. Thirdrail

    Thirdrail In Memoriam

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    Only United Parcel Service has the ground volume sufficient to warrant rail movement. The Postal Service operates Priority Mail by air, and FedEx Ground (ex Roadway Package Service) and DHL flat out lack the volume. Federal Express' main volume is overnight air. :cat:
     
  8. cajon

    cajon TrainBoard Member

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    DHL did have an ad on TV of their delivery vans on a pig train a few months back. That's as close as they ever got to going by rail. Of course their train had some UPS vans stopped at a Xing. <G>
     
  9. Jack Doran

    Jack Doran TrainBoard Member

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    As far as I know USPS has stopped mail on Amtrak trains. At least there are no mail cars on the California Zepyhr and Southwest Chief in Galesburg, IL. They did the cut because it was costing amtrak costing money to run these trains so to cut costs they stopped mail service. It was in one of the past issues of trains magazine but I can't remember which month. Amtrak line up as comes in the Galesburg depot is there bagagge car and then there coach and fleet cars. They do not have the extra boxcars that had mail in them any more. Hopefully somebody knows this. I am kind of curious since this question came up.
     
  10. Charlie

    Charlie TrainBoard Member

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    Now that you mention it Jack, I seem to remember reading the same info in "Trains". I stand corrected!

    Charlie
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 12, 2006
  11. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    DHL came into our state about two years ago. A big advertising campaign. Lots of loud noises. Then virtually disappeared. Now they've closed up shop. Flopped. No longer listed in the phone book. Nearest place is hours of driving.

    :eek:mg:

    Boxcab E50
     
  12. cajon

    cajon TrainBoard Member

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    "never say never" <G> From Trainfoamers:

    Coast Starlight this week
    Posted by: Jaanfo (IP Logged)
    Date: November 10, 2006 02:30AM

    This week and this week only, forever, the SB Starlight will be hauling ExpressTrak Reefer cars from Seattle to LA, two cars per train until Seattle no longer has them. ExpressTrak has folded and ceased operations, the cars are deadheading back to ETs headquarters in LA to await disposition.
     
  13. cmstpmark

    cmstpmark TrainBoard Supporter

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    That's what they get for using Polled Herefords as delivery vehicles. I heard the bulls didn't like how they looked in yellow and none of the bovines could understand German (Deutsche Luft Hansa).
     

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