PC Miler|Rail is the program I used to make the map. The journey to Indiana is likely to be faster than going to Indiana since there are auto distribution centers in the Chicago area.
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Bummer - Three weeks on train?
- Thread starter tstafford
- Start date
PC Miler|Rail is the program I used to make the map. The journey to Indiana is likely to be faster than going to Indiana since there are auto distribution centers in the Chicago area.
I can give you an annoying, but true, answer for this, based on my knowledge of the state of the US freight rail system.
If Tesla contracts with Union Pacific to transfer autos to Chicago, they can get a pretty quick train move.
If Tesla contracted with CSX (or NS) to move autos from Chicago to Birmingham, or from Chicago to New Jersey, they can get a pretty quick train move.
Unfortunately, there's a snarl in the US rail system at Chicago. The train with the autos is probably spending at least a week being transferred from one railroad to another in Chicago -- maybe two weeks.
I'm not sure whether Tesla management knows this. I am available for logistics consulting.
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Tesla has its own rail sidings and they're trucking them to the Bay Area rail center rather than getting direct train service? That's... interesting. I'm guessing production volume is still too low to use the sidings. They could probably do one weekly shipment economically at the moment.
Had Tesla asked me about logistics, I would have set up one big automotive train run direct from the Tesla factory to a huge distribution center with its own sidings on the west side of Chicago somewhere, because the Chicago rail bottleneck is ridiculous right now. It ought to make sense to use rail from Chicago eastwards, but right now I'm not sure it actually makes sense.
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Hmm, upon reading the previous pages, I see that Tesla is actually using BNSF for delivery. Well, that explains trucking it to the Bay Area... BNSF must have offered a much better deal than Union Pacific, however, because they have a much less appropriate route. It's obviously going to be slower.
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I was just in Chicago on a rail inspection trip. It's looking reasonably fluid at the moment. Also, the Chicago Transportation Coordination Office (admittedly a collection of railroads inclined to report good news) indicates in its latest report to the Surface Transportation Board that conditions are fluid.
Auto ramp work can, of course, cause delays. Thus, I'm not sure the trains are the big problem. Regardless, fast is relative. It might take a week or more just to get to Chicago.
Auto ramp work can, of course, cause delays. Thus, I'm not sure the trains are the big problem. Regardless, fast is relative. It might take a week or more just to get to Chicago.
GOPJEW
Member
I can give you an annoying, but true, answer for this, based on my knowledge of the state of the US freight rail system.
If Tesla contracts with Union Pacific to transfer autos to Chicago, they can get a pretty quick train move.
If Tesla contracted with CSX (or NS) to move autos from Chicago to Birmingham, or from Chicago to New Jersey, they can get a pretty quick train move.
Unfortunately, there's a snarl in the US rail system at Chicago. The train with the autos is probably spending at least a week being transferred from one railroad to another in Chicago -- maybe two weeks.
I'm not sure whether Tesla management knows this. I am available for logistics consulting.
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Tesla has its own rail sidings and they're trucking them to the Bay Area rail center rather than getting direct train service? That's... interesting. I'm guessing production volume is still too low to use the sidings. They could probably do one weekly shipment economically at the moment.
Had Tesla asked me about logistics, I would have set up one big automotive train run direct from the Tesla factory to a huge distribution center with its own sidings on the west side of Chicago somewhere, because the Chicago rail bottleneck is ridiculous right now. It ought to make sense to use rail from Chicago eastwards, but right now I'm not sure it actually makes sense.
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Hmm, upon reading the previous pages, I see that Tesla is actually using BNSF for delivery. Well, that explains trucking it to the Bay Area... BNSF must have offered a much better deal than Union Pacific, however, because they have a much less appropriate route. It's obviously going to be slower.
Don't tell me there is a problem in Chicago, my DS advised that my 85D is on the train to Chicago now, "changing lines" in Chicago on the 29th, then to NJ by the 5th of August and delivery via truck to me sometime around the 11th (hoping for the 10th since I am supposed to drive to NJ on the 10th for two days of golf at Pine Valley - would love to have it!
stallhorn
Member
Hello all, long time lurker, first time poster.
I am caught up in the rail delay as well, so no one knows when the car will be here in Rockville, MD. I was told it was in NM, then in Chicago and now in New Jersey over the past three weeks (production completed on 7/7). Delivery ESTIMATE now is Friday.
I am new at this, but a bit surprised that they can't tell me exactly when the car will be delivered even when we are inside of a week of estimated delivery. I keep pushing the paint protection guys (they have a 3 week lead time) back, which is not good.
Sorry to start posting with a b*tch, but c'est la vie.
Shawn
I am caught up in the rail delay as well, so no one knows when the car will be here in Rockville, MD. I was told it was in NM, then in Chicago and now in New Jersey over the past three weeks (production completed on 7/7). Delivery ESTIMATE now is Friday.
I am new at this, but a bit surprised that they can't tell me exactly when the car will be delivered even when we are inside of a week of estimated delivery. I keep pushing the paint protection guys (they have a 3 week lead time) back, which is not good.
Sorry to start posting with a b*tch, but c'est la vie.
Shawn
baxiii
Member
A quick update, I am scheduled for pick up on Aug 5th. Could have been Aug 3 but I have conflicts. Car is in Jersey, and expected to be at Tyco Road on Aug 2. Roughly speaking, the 21 days of transit held true for my delivery. Best to all...
-BP3
Here's a good one - car finished production on 7/21 and I hadn't heard anything about it from the DS since then so I pinged him yesterday. Apparently the car is still sitting in California in a rail yard waiting to begin its journey. Sort of crappy for a $116K purchase.
I think there is an option for factory delivery but with twin two year olds the idea of telling the wife that I'm leaving for a week or so to pick up my car is a frightening thought!
I did send my DS a note asking if I can pay for truck transport. I doubt they would let me have my own carrier take the car until payment is made but maybe they have other options. I think it's absurd that its sitting there not moving at all. I'll post his response - which will almost certainly be no.
WELP - as expected I kind of got a no from the DS. I asked about paying for truck service and the response came back that the car is now on the train. Convenient.
OP here - I'm officially tired of waiting. Looks like it will end up being nine weeks from order to delivery with a bit more than four of that being shipping/delivery.
Andyw2100
Well-Known Member
I don't remember the details, but I believe there are some pretty significant negative tax ramifications and/or registration issues to picking up a car in California if it is ultimately going to be registered elsewhere. These issues are definitely discussed somewhere on TMC, as this is the only place I would have read about them.
Interestingly, Texas buyers fully pay for their cars before they leave California and don't have to pay CA taxes on the purchase. If a guy in some other state asks for the same, I have to wonder why this couldn't also happen.
Andyw2100
Well-Known Member
I wasn't commenting on the ability of someone to accept ownership somehow and have the vehicle transported, which I'm guessing must be happening for Texas owners. I was just saying that actually --TAKING DELIVERY-- in California had some negative ramifications for those not living in California.
SteveS0353
Member
Tesla do offer Fremont delivery. I did that, and drove down the coast of California to bring my Model S home. But there are sales tax implications for most states if you live outside California. Tesla must collect California state sales tax on a delivery in California, and not all states have a mechanism to credit that. Some due diligence on tax and registration will be required before deciding on Fremont delivery.
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Yes, it's about where you take delivery and the ownership changes from Tesla to you. In the case where Tesla ship the car (by truck or train), Tesla retains ownership until it's delivered and the owner accepts the delivery. I'll bet trying to take ownership in California and using a private trucking contractor will still trigger the sales tax issue -- it's about where the owner takes possession of the vehicle.
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Even if you send Tesla the money (bank draft, check, wire transfer,...), legally you have not taken possession of the vehicle yet. The same is true in California. I wired the money to Tesla some weeks before I took delivery in Fremont, but I still had to meet with my Delivery Specialist in Fremont and acknowledge receipt of the vehicle on his iPad before ownership transferred to me. It's where that last transaction happens which determines the sales tax issue.
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