RE:Crude By Rail Economics...ocean; There is no doubt that the current environment for Oil by Rail is more challenging than it was a few months ago. The article you have posted speaks to the current economics re the WCS / WTI differential in the near term.
What is not mentioned is the economics re WCS and the World price. This article;
https://business.financialpost.com/2015/02/04/how-new-oil-terminals-popping-up-in-obscure-u-s-towns-could-be-canadas-ticket-to-becoming-a-global-energy-broker/?__lsa=78e8-a53d
talks about the emerging interest in developing the infrastructure to export Canadian Oil by Rail to Tanker at various locations in the Pacific North West US.
Its early days and it remains to be seen how this will pan out. I looks to me that Northern Gateway in its current configuration is dead in the water (so to speak). Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain expansion has a good chance to be successful but in the best case is years away.
You will have to classify this as hearsay; I heard or read this somewhere. What was once a “trickle” of Oil by Rail to Tanker at the port of Vancouver BC has become a “steady stream” in the last year or two. Oil and Fuel has been safely shipped by Tanker out of Vancouver BC for several decades. I have no idea re what the capacity of the existing infrastructure is or the size of the stream.
Unfortunately at this time there doesn’t seem to be any Rail to Tanker infrastructure at Prince Rupert which would be a game changer.
Unlike some retail “investors” the industry looks to, plans for and makes decisions for the long-term.
In my opinion Oil by Rail has an important role to play for the foreseeable future. There will be challenges and opportunities. If it was “easy” anybody could and would be doing it.
As Always; Do Your Own Due Diligence; It’s Your Money !!