Surface Transportation Board

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has determined that the cost of capital for the railroad industry, which is calculated each year, was 10.68% for 2024.

Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chairman Patrick Fuchs on July 21 announced that the agency is holding a series of meetings “designed to discuss ideas and opportunities to update the STB’s…

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on March 14 reported that it will review Norfolk Southern’s (NS) proposal to acquire Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line Railroad Company (NPBL), a Virginia S&T…

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on July 10 reported discontinuing proceedings in which it sought comment on proposed modifications to its procedures for annually determining whether Class I railroads are…

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) is seeking nominations to fill vacancies on its Railroad-Shipper Transportation Advisory Council (RSTAC) and its Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee (RETAC). The deadline for both…

As the proverb provides, “Be careful for what you wish,” as wishes sometimes deliver unintended consequences. Railroads may have experienced a wishes backfire July 8 when the U.S. 7th Circuit…

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on July 7 announced a decision confirming the Kansas City Southern Railway Company’s (KCSR, now part of Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) with Canadian Pacific…

FINANCIAL EDGE, RAILWAY AGE JULY 2025 ISSUE: At the 11th annual Rail Insights conference, participants from the Class I railroads and government and equipment sectors discussed the industry for the…

WATCHING WASHINGTON, RAILWAY AGE, JULY 2025 ISSUE: What is more delightfully amusing than a paradox—that we park on driveways and drive on parkways; that foul is fair when batted baseballs collide…

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on July 1 denied a petition for injunctive relief and application for an emergency service order by Metra, which is in dispute with Union Pacific…

Drawn from our 2025 Rail Insights conference, this edition of Railway Age’s podcast series features Surface Transportation Board Chair Patrick Fuchs in conversation with Editor-in Chief William C. Vantuono. Now…

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on June 30 denied both a request from BNSF to issue an order clarifying that it has the right to serve a Texas-based shipper and…

The Surface Transportation Board, under the direction of Chairman Patrick Fuchs, continues to clear its docket of case backlogs. The initiative, STB said, is among the agency’s efforts “to promote…

The Surface Transportation Board (STB), short one member at four and evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats, on June 25 issued a somewhat nebulous decision on Docket No. Ex Parte…

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has published the annual deflator factor and inflation-adjusted railroad revenue thresholds for 2024.

It is eminently logical that if one relocates to a community zoned for heavy industry, they shouldn’t be surprised that a 24/7 distribution hub is constructed near them, bringing with…

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has adopted for third-quarter 2025 the rail cost adjustment factor (RCAF), which is defined as “an index formulated to represent changes in railroad costs incurred…

U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Roger Marshall (R-Kans.) on June 18 reintroduced the Reliable Rail Service Act to clarify the railroads’ common carrier obligation and to establish specific criteria…

We hosted a call with former Surface Transportation Board Chair Daniel R. Elliott III to discuss rail M&A. An East-West consolidation remains an uphill battle—he gave it a 20%-25% chance—and…

The Surface Transportation Board has published and is providing the public an opportunity to comment on the 2024 weighted average state tax rates for each U.S. Class I railroad, as…