(Photograph Courtesy of Amtrak)

Acting Director Named for STB Office of Passenger Rail

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has selected Neil Moyer as acting Director of its Office of Passenger Rail, which is responsible for investigating and analyzing issues regarding Amtrak on-time performance (OTP).

‘Hindered’ STB Seeks ‘Good-Faith Exchange’ with UP on Embargoes

Union Pacific on Dec. 6, 2022, filed a seven-slide PowerPoint presentation pursuant to the Surface Transportation Board’s Nov. 22, 2022 order, Oversight Hearing Pertaining to Union Pacific Railroad Company’s Embargoes (STB Docket

Commentary

Precision Schedule? STB Review Might Actually Test This ‘Marketing Term‘

Where are the Class I railroads in improving their actual service metrics as the upcoming Union Pacific rail embargo STB investigation comes close to its Dec. 13-14 date in Washington? Following are summary observations and some independent commentary.

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.

(Bruce Kelly Photograph)

2023 Outlook: Rails Beware

RAILWAY AGE DECEMBER 2022 ISSUE: The Surface Transportation Board (STB) is plotting an active and intense 2023.

Commentary

Will Bureaucrats Invade the C-Suite?

WATCHING WASHINGTON, RAILWAY AGE DECEMBER 2022 ISSUE: What is going on with Class I railroad labor relations and customer service?

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)

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.

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