“Tropical Storm Hilary left behind quite a mess in southern California,” Union Pacific reported Aug. 21 via social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. “Thank you to all of our crews restoring the rail lines so that we can resume serving our customers! Our thoughts are with all of our customers and communities impacted by this storm.” (Photographs Courtesy of UP, via X)

STB Monitoring Rail Service Impacts of Tropical Storm Hilary

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on Aug. 21 announced that it is “actively” monitoring any rail service disruptions caused by Tropical Storm Hilary, following reports of freight and passenger rail service interruptions

In August 2021, the STB Office of Environmental Analysis issued a Final EIS for the project, identifying the 88-mile Whitmore Park Alternative as the environmentally preferred route for the Uinta Basin Railway, one of three analyzed. It would extend from two terminus points in northeastern Utah’s Uinta Basin near Myton and Leland Bench to a connection with the existing Union Pacific Provo Subdivision near Kyune (see map above).

Court Halts Uinta Basin Railway Project

The Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) December 2021 approval of the construction and operation of the Uinta Basin Railway was struck down by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia

STB: Six Vacancies on RETAC

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) is seeking nominations for candidates to fill six vacancies on its Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee (RETAC).

Railroad Cost of Capital Set at 10.58% for 2022

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has determined that the cost of capital for the railroad industry was 10.58% for 2022.

STB Chair Martin Oberman
Commentary

Service is Job One, But What About Rates?

“But first, while time does not permit me to cover all of the issues on the Board’s agenda, I want to discuss what, in my view, is of uppermost concern to the

BNSF Commended for ‘Excellent Service’

While “concerns about railroad service are well documented from shippers and advocacy groups,” and railroads have struggled like other labor-intensive industries to fill open positions, “our experience with railroad service has been very good,” Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AECI) CEO and General Manager David Tudor informed the Surface Transportation Board (STB) in a recent letter.

STB Initiates ‘First of its Kind’ Investigation Into Amtrak’s Sunset Limited On-Time Performance

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on July 11 reported that the standard has been met for initiating an investigation into the on-time performance of Amtrak’s Sunset Limited long-distance service between New Orleans

From AAR, a ‘Clarifying Perspective’ on Safety

Regarding to Surface Transportation Board docket Urgent Issues in Freight Rail Service, EP 770; Urgent Issues in Freight Rail Service—Railroad Reporting, EP 770-1, some rail labor unions have been providing STB (as

(PSCC Images Courtesy of Rail Enterprise Group)

PSCC to Acquire 25-Mile Line

Pennsylvania & Southern Railway (PSCC), part of the Rail Enterprise Group, has filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.41 to purchase approximately 25 miles of rail line and associated

The Reliable Rail Service Act has been reintroduced by U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Roger Marshall (R-Kans.). The original debuted in September 2022 but did not move forward.

Senators Reintroduce Reliable Rail Service Act

U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Roger Marshall (R-Kans.) on June 28 reintroduced the Reliable Rail Service Act to clarify the railroads’ common carrier obligation and establish specific criteria for the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to consider when evaluating whether that obligation is being met. They said it would “give shippers much-needed certainty that is currently lacking.”

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