STB

Senate bill would mandate STB reforms

It is shipper-friendly legislation with which freight railroads probably can live. And while it’s not all the stuff so-called captive shippers would prefer—such as mandatory caps on rail rates and a study into the benefits of mandatory reciprocal switching—it stands a better probability of becoming law than anything previously attempted in Congress on behalf of shippers.
Commentary

Implications aplenty in Supreme Court Amtrak ruling

The Supreme Court March 9 sent back to a federal appellate court for reconsideration a freight railroad challenge to a provision of the 2008 Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (PRIIA) that allowed the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Amtrak to collaborate in establishing minimum on-time performance standards for Amtrak passenger trains operating on freight railroad-owned track. The 9-0 unanimous decision was written by Justice Anthony Kennedy.

January employment gains mask monthly drop

Figures released by the Surface Transportation Board Monday, February 23, 2015, show total Class I railroad employment as of mid-January 2015 rose 1.41% over January 2014 levels, but retreated 3.67% from mid-December 2014 employment numbers.

Class I employment gains in December

Figures released by the Surface Transportation Board Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015, show total Class I railroad employment as of mid-December 2014 rose 4.93% to 170,841, from mid-December 2013, and also added 96 positions from mid-November 2014, a rise of 0.59%.

Commentary
  • News

A second act at STB for Dan Elliott?

Proving once again he has more lives than cartoon character Wile E. Coyote, former Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chairman Dan Elliott is poised to receive his second White House renomination. The first renomination expired with adjournment of the 113th Congress in December after the Senate failed to confirm him. A formal announcement of the second renomination will be made this week.

Commentary
  • News

Hello? It’s Dan Elliott for President Obama

News item: Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chairman Dan Elliott was forced to bid adieu Dec. 31, 2014, after the Senate failed to confirm his renomination. President Obama still could make a recess appointment prior to a Republican controlled Senate sworn-in Jan. 6.

  • News

STB: Massachusetts can buy short line assets

The Surface Transportation Board on Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2014 gave preliminary approval to Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) to acquire “certain physical railroad assets” from Canaan, Conn.-based short line Housatonic Railroad Co., Inc.

Class I employment rises in November

Figures released by the Surface Transportation Board Friday, Dec. 19, 2014, show total Class I railroad employment as of mid-November 2014 rose 4.07% to 169,845, from mid-November 2013, and also added 621 positions from mid-October 2014, a rise of 0.37%.

Class I employment up in October

Figures released by the Surface Transportation Board on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014, show total Class I railroad employment as of mid-October 2014 rose 3.75% to 169, 224, from mid-October 2013, and also added 521 positions from mid-September 2014, a rise of 0.31%.

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