STB

In advance of the Surface Transportation Board (STB) evaluating a Union Pacific (UP)-Norfolk Southern (NS) merger application (yet to be filed), rival BNSF wants a separate proceeding to examine, with…

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on Nov. 26 granted authority for Fortress Investment Group LLC (Fortress) to acquire control of Class II Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway Company (W&LE) and…

A Nov. 24 letter to the Surface Transportation Board co-authored by 64 U.S. trade associations, chambers, and businesses—from the chemical and agribusiness sectors to the automotive dealer, plastics, building, vinyl,…

The U.S. transportation system is being pushed beyond the limits of what it was built to handle. Freight volumes continue climbing, supply chains are more time-sensitive, and our roads —…

Shortly after nine Republican state attorneys general wrote to the Surface Transportation Board expressing serious concerns about the proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger, three counterparts, also Republicans—Mike Hilgers, Nebraska; J.B.…

The late Henry G. Manne, a pioneer in melding the academic disciplines of economics and law through a lens favoring free markets and reduced government regulation, gained international acclaim through…

The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) has filed a notice of intent to participate in the Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) review of the forthcoming Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern…

The Senate Commerce Committee on Nov. 19 recommended Senate reconfirmation of Republican Michelle A. Schutz to a second five-year term on the Surface Transportation Board (STB). Her renomination is now…

18 U.S. Senators—evenly split between Republicans and Democrats—from agricultural-producer states sent a letter to the Surface Transportation Board urging “a rigorous and comprehensive evaluation” of the proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern…

Kneecapping is “a form of malicious wounding, in which the victim is injured in the knee, often as torture,” according to Wikipedia. Nine Republican state attorneys general used this rather strong term…

The Senate Commerce Committee will meet in executive session Wednesday, Nov. 19, to vote on whether to recommend for Senate confirmation numerous POTUS 47 nominees, including Republican Michelle A. Schultz,…

What was expected to be a low-key Senate Commerce Committee confirmation hearing Nov 6 on the nomination of two Republicans to serve on the independent (from the Executive Branch) Surface…

“The regulatory framework for freight rail must be updated to reflect both the current competitive landscape and the legal consequences of the U.S. Supreme Court's 2024 decision in Loper Bright…

Prior to the Staggers of Act of 1980, the only way a Class I railroad could shed the cost of marginal or money losing light density rail line was abandonment.…

Joining BNSF and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) in expressing their concerns about the proposed Union Pacific (UP)-Norfolk Southern (NS) merger, CN recently launched a page on its website encouraging…

WATCHING WASHINGTON, NOVEMBER 2025 ISSUE: Perhaps the gutsiest-ever regulatory agency decision was the Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) 2001 imposition of a railroad merger moratorium. Its architect was then-STB Chairperson Linda…

Francis Patrick (Frank) Mulvey, a Democrat who served on the Surface Transportation Board (STB) from May 2004 to December 2013, died Oct. 18 at 81. Among just six Ph.D. economists…

Pinsly Railroad Company President and CEO Ryan Ratledge joins the Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) Railroad-Shipper Transportation Advisory Council (RSTAC). Also, Anna Lynn Smith rejoins HDR as Intercity and High-Speed Rail…

Democrat Robert E. Primus, fired Aug. 27 from his Senate-confirmed seat on the Surface Transportation Board (STB) by POTUS 47, wants his job back—and he is suing the Republican POTUS,…

On July 30, 2025, at the Surface Transportation Board, Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern filed a notice of intent to file an Application for authority to merge. The earliest the…