Surface Transportation Board

Inching toward a decision on the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger, the Surface Transportation Board held seven days of hearings* on the transaction, with numerous presenters, both pro and con.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) wants the Surface Transportation Board to dump the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger, unless he gets his way.

At the NEARS (North East Association of Rail Shippers) Fall 2022 Conference, participants say they are still waiting to see consistency in rail service. Technical metrics are gradually improving, but…

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has adopted for fourth-quarter 2022 the rail cost adjustment factor (RCAF), defined as “an index formulated to represent changes in railroad costs incurred by the…

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation on Sept. 7 conducted a hearing to consider President Joe Biden’s nominees to the Amtrak Board of Directors. The nominees—David Capozzi, Anthony…

In response to a request from “affected communities,” the Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA) issued on Sept. 6 a notice extending the deadline for public comments…

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has found five U.S. Class I railroads to be revenue adequate for 2021: BNSF, CSX, Norfolk Southern, Soo Line (the U.S. affiliate of Canadian Pacific)…

The Senate Commerce Committee will hold a confirmation hearing Sept. 7 on President Biden’s nomination of Democrat Robert E. Primus to a second term on the Surface Transportation Board (STB).…

All parties in the Gulf Coast case are in agreement—on the extension of mediation. Amtrak on one side and CSX, Norfolk Southern (NS), and the Alabama State Port Authority and…

When Congress partially deregulated railroad rates and practices in 1980 (Staggers Rail Act), it instructed regulators to consider revenue adequacy in determining the reasonableness of rail rates charged captive shippers—those…

The Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) “inadequate” assessments of the Uinta Basin Railway project’s climate, public health and safety impacts undermine its approval of the project under the Interstate Commerce Commission…

Canadian Pacific (CP) and Kansas City Southern (KCS) merger proposal receives clearance from Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). Also, Union Pacific (UP) takes Operation Clean Sweep…

Janie Sheng has been elevated to Director of the Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) Office of Public Assistance, Governmental Affairs and Compliance (OPAGAC), following service as Acting Director since August 2021.

“To date, steps by Class I railroads to boost hiring and other measures have not translated into meaningful service improvements,” the American Chemistry Council (ACC) told the Surface Transportation Board…

Mendocino Railway sues to preserve federal oversight of railroads. Also, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announces application period for 2022 rail freight grant programs. Mendocino Railway Class III common…

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) analyzing Canadian Pacific Kansas City’s (CPKC) potential impacts on the environment was issued Aug. 5 by the Surface Transportation Board (STB); comments are due…

Legislation to reauthorize the Surface Transportation Board (STB) and “create a fair marketplace” for railroads and shippers was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on Aug. 2. While the…

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has determined that the cost of capital for the railroad industry was 10.37% for 2021.

Amtrak construction crews begin work to reactivate five Gulf Coast stations, with a groundbreaking event in Bay St. Louis, Miss. Also, NJ Transit and federal and state officials break ground…

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has adopted a final rule “to codify a longstanding voluntary practice” in which Class I railroads, through the Association of American Railroads (AAR), have annually…