STB

Senate Advances Amtrak, STB Nominees

Five Presidential nominees to the Amtrak Board of Directors—one a renomination—and one re-nominee to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) were recommended for Senate confirmation Dec. 7 by the Senate Commerce Committee meeting in Executive Session.

3i-backed Regional Rail proposes to acquire all of the stock of Effingham, Ill.-based EFRR, South Point, Ohio-based SPOR and ILW, and assume direct control of those rail carriers, according to the Surface Transportation Board. (SPOR Photograph)
  • News

Regional Rail to Add Three More Small Roads

Regional Rail, a Kennett Square, Pa.-based short line holding company, has filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1180.2(d)(2) to acquire control of Class III carriers Effingham Railroad Company (EFRR) and South Point & Ohio Railroad, Inc. (SPOR), as well as Illinois Western Railroad Company (ILW), upon its becoming a Class III rail carrier.

STB to UP: Explain Embargo Escalation

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) is ordering Union Pacific (UP) President and CEO Lance Fritz and other top UP executives to appear at a Dec. 13-14 public hearing on what it’s calling a “substantial increase” in the Class I railroad’s use of embargoes as a method of reducing rail traffic congestion. UP responds.

(Map Courtesy of MRL, via Nov. 18 STB Filing)

MRL Rails One Step Closer to Returning to BNSF

Montana Rail Link (MRL) in January announced it would cease its long-term lease with BNSF to operate over main line between Huntley, Mont., and Sandpoint, Idaho. Now, it is asking for Surface Transportation Board (STB) authorization.

STB to Amtrak, CSX, NS, Port: Procedural Schedule Amended (UPDATED Nov. 11)

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on Nov. 10 granted a joint motion to amend the procedural schedule of its decision on the dispute between Amtrak on one side and CSX, Norfolk Southern (NS), and the Alabama State Port Authority and its Terminal Railway Alabama State Docks division (collectively, the Port) on the other for Gulf Coast passenger rail service. The Board had previously granted an extension to Dec. 1 of mediation.