(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.

STB Seeking RSTAC Nominations

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) is seeking nominations for candidates to fill one small-railroad representative vacancy and one small-shipper representative vacancy on its Railroad-Shipper Transportation Advisory Council (RSTAC).

STB to Class I’s: Continue ‘Performance Reporting’

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on Oct. 28 ordered all Class I railroads to submit weekly performance and monthly employment data for six additional months, until May 5, 2023. BNSF, CSX, Norfolk Southern (NS) and Union Pacific (UP) must also submit biweekly service progress reports for another six months as well as an interim update, due Dec. 2, 2022, that covers performance and labor force targets and any service recovery plan modifications.

(Photograph Courtesy of CP via Twitter)

CP’s Creel: 2022, ‘A Tale of Two Halves’ (UPDATED, Cowen)

“Throughout the year, we have said 2022 would be a tale of two halves and that is exactly how it is unfolding,” Canadian Pacific (CP) President and CEO Keith Creel said on Oct. 26. “The third quarter saw strong demand in potash and intermodal that we anticipated, and CP was well-resourced to handle the volume increases we have seen.”

Commentary

Yes, It’s the Same Rishi Sunak

If the name of Britain’s new Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, seems familiar, it’s not because most recently he was the comical BoJo’s (Boris Johnson) treasury chief (they call it Chancellor of the Exchequer across the pond, where lately the ruling Conservative Party has been changing out Prime Ministers with the frequency of replacing furnace filters).

EMR to Acquire 45 Miles of CMQR Track (UPDATED)

Class III Eastern Maine Railway Company (EMR) has filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.41 to acquire approximately 36.57 miles of main line and nine miles of branch line in Maine from Central Maine & Quebec Railway US Inc. (CMQR), which is owned by Canadian Pacific (CP).

Commentary

Can STB Avoid Political Division?

WATCHING WASHINGTON, RAILWAY AGE OCTOBER 2022 ISSUE: Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chairperson Martin J. Oberman remains as difficult to categorize today as when he arrived in January 2019. In many respects, he brings to mind mythical Roman god Janus, who, in seeing forward and backward, symbolizes change and transition.

(Photograph Courtesy of Amtrak)

STB Launches Office of Passenger Rail

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on Oct. 1 established the Office of Passenger Rail, responsible for investigating and analyzing issues regarding Amtrak on-time performance (OTP).

Commentary

Is STB Facing Information Overload?

One might as well ask who threw the overalls in Mrs. Murphy’s chowder as to enquire what more the Surface Transportation Board (STB) might learn from additional public hearings on the question of whether railroads Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern should be permitted to merge, and under what conditions.

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