Former STB Member Frank Mulvey, 81
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 (of 117
Author: Frank N. Wilner
Another POTUS 47 Firing—NMB This Time
National Mediation Board member Deirdre E. Hamilton, a Democrat, was fired Oct. 14 by POTUS 47, making her one of many legally questionable independent regulatory agency terminations by the POTUS. Hamilton’s departure
Commentary
Recusal for Primus if He Returns?
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, as well
Commentary
STB Drama Follows UP-POTUS Chat
WATCHING WASHINGTON, RAILWAY AGE, OCTOBER 2025 ISSUE: The proposed marriage of Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS) to form the first U.S. seamless Atlantic to Pacific transcontinental railroad is a mesmerizing drama intensified by two forceful personalities.
Commentary
Mr. Vena Goes to Washington
This just in, from Union Pacific: “CEO Jim Vena was honored to meet [POTUS 47] in the Oval Office, a special place for America with a longstanding history. They discussed how creating
Kloster, Schultz Chosen for STB by POTUS 47
POTUS 47 has nominated Republican Richard Kloster to fill a vacant seat at the Surface Transportation Board (STB) and renominated Republican Michelle A. Schultz to a second term. The Sept. 11 nominations
Commentary
Is Shipper Salvation Performance Standards?
WATCHING WASHINGTON, SEPTEMBER 2025 ISSUE: One’s eyes are wide shut not to acknowledge a polarizing dispute ensnaring railroads and their captive shippers—those lacking effective transportation alternatives—in a muddy morass as to whether
Commentary
Did Primus Engineer His Own Ouster?
The firing by POTUS 47 of outspoken Surface Transportation Board (STB) member and Democrat Robert E. Primus Aug. 27 leaves the five-member agency short two members as it awaits a formal merger
Commentary
DOT Dumps FRA’s Collaborative RSAC
Here we go with another shutdown of democratic free speech by a POTUS and his inner circle consolidating power in pursuit of a unitary form of government controlling every aspect of American
Commentary
W&LE: Beguiling as Ever
Call it the little railroad that did and does, and know that twice during the previous century it attracted iconic Wall Street titans nurturing seamless transcontinental schemes.