The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has announced that, effective Aug. 1, 2025, it has combined its Office of Proceedings (OP) and Office of the General Counsel (OGC), into one Office of Chief
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on July 30 confirmed that it has received a notice of intent regarding a proposed merger that would result in the combination of Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS). This notice, required under the Board’s merger regulations at 49 C.F.R. Part 1180, “initiates the regulatory review process for a proposed major merger between two Class I railroads.”
If you think federal regulatory agencies—even federally owned Amtrak—have strayed from what former Southern Railway and Conrail CEO L. Stanley Crane termed, “stick to your knitting,” you’re not ridin’ the rails solo.
Unconfirmed reports over the weekend noted a Class I merger is close. These reports were preceded by actions by the STB that show the agency is preparing to handle a review in a more expedited fashion with a merger resource page already up, and a notice that the Board is embarking on taking steps to expedite regulatory processes. We continue to believe a deal is highly likely between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern.
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has determined that the cost of capital for the railroad industry, which is calculated each year, was 10.68% for 2024.
Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chairman Patrick Fuchs on July 21 announced that the agency is holding a series of meetings “designed to discuss ideas and opportunities to update the STB’s regulatory framework to improve competition and reduce regulatory barriers.”
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on March 14 reported that it will review Norfolk Southern’s (NS) proposal to acquire Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line Railroad Company (NPBL), a Virginia S&T (switching and terminal) railroad, as a “significant” transaction. NS in June provided the STB-required supplement to its acquisition application, and on July 7, the Board accepted the application as complete and set a procedural schedule.
FROM THE EDITOR, RAILWAY AGE JULY 2025 ISSUE: Consolidation: “The action or process of making something stronger or more solid,” or, “The action or process of combining a number of things into
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on July 10 reported discontinuing proceedings in which it sought comment on proposed modifications to its procedures for annually determining whether Class I railroads are revenue adequate.
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) is seeking nominations to fill vacancies on its Railroad-Shipper Transportation Advisory Council (RSTAC) and its Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee (RETAC). The deadline for both is Aug. 8. Candidates may nominate themselves.