Commentary

Will face-time determine new DOT secretary?

It is said that the most dangerous place to stand is between a television camera and the publicity hungry Democratic Senator from New York, Chuck Schumer.

December employment up year-over-year

Figures released Friday by the Surface Transportation Board show Class I railroads employed 162,652 people in mid-December 2012, up 1.06 % from December 2011, though down a modest 0.07%, or 114 employees, from November 2012.

Employment up year-over-year, past month

Figures released by the Surface Transportation Board show Class I railroads employed 162,766 people in mid-November, up 1.65% from November 2011, and up 0.20% from October 2012.

AAR to STB: Consider nat gas competition for coal rate cases

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) said Monday it has petitioned the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to initiate a rulemaking that would propose re-introducing indirect competition— specifically product and geographic competition for fuel used to generate power— as a factor to be considered in determining if the STB has jurisdiction to hear rate cases involving the transportation of coal to coal-fired power plants.

Iowa Pacific acquires Cape Rail, Inc.

Chicago-based Iowa Pacific Holdings, LLC Tuesday announced its acquisition of a controlling interest in Cape Rail, Inc., and its subsidiaries, Massachusetts Coastal Railroad, LLC and Cape Cod Central Railroad.

Employment growth slows in September, dips from August

Figures released by the Surface Transportation Board Friday show Class I railroads employed 160,428 people in mid-September, up a modest 0.12% from September 2011, but down 1.39% (95 employees) from August 2012.

GWI completes RailAmerica acquisition

Genesee & Wyoming Inc. Monday said it has completed its acquisition of RailAmerica, Inc., and also “entered into a new five-year Senior Secured Credit Facility comprised of a $1.875 billion term loan and $425 million revolving credit facility.”

STB to Berkshire Hathaway: Divest two railroads

The Surface Transportation Board has directed BNSF Railway’s parent, Berkshire Hathaway, to “promptly remedy its noncompliance with railroad control requirements” stemming from its acquisition of BNSF in 2010.

August employment down from July

Class I railroad employment totaled 161,134 in August, down 0.54% from July, though maintaining an edge of 0.64% over August 2011, according to figures released Thursday by the Surface Transportation Board.

Rail cost of capital rises to 11.57%

The Surface Transportation Board announced Friday that it had determined the railroad industry’s after-tax cost of capital for 2011 to be 11.57%, compared with 11.03% for the prior year.

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