Arkansas-Oklahoma Railroad has filed notice with federal regulators to extend its lease of more than 10 miles of track from BNSF Railway in Shawnee, Oklahoma.
The Class III carrier has leased a portion of BNSF’s Shawnee Industrial Spur since 2021 following Surface Transportation Board approval. Under a new agreement with BNSF, AOK would continue to serve as the operator on the 10.7-mile line between milepost 134.037 and milepost 123.379.
AOK said the lease contains an interchange commitment and submitted details in compliance with federal rules. The railroad certified that while it remains a Class III carrier, its annual revenues exceed $5 million, triggering a requirement for advance labor notice before the exemption can take effect.
The company has requested that the board waive the 60-day notice requirement for employees and labor unions. Regulators will determine whether to grant that request and set the effective date of the exemption in a separate decision.
