STB – Page 14 – Railfanning.org

Minnesotans Overwhelmingly Support DM&E Railroad Plan to Upgrade Track in Southern Minnesota

August 14, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEW ULM, Minn. – By a 7-to-1 margin, Minnesotans favor Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad’s plan to upgrade its existing tracks in southern Minnesota, according to a new statewide survey of Minnesota voters about the railroad improvement plan. Asked why they favor it, supporters most often said that it would improve rail safety. The statewide survey found that 74 percent favor the DM&E plan, 10.4 percent oppose it and 15.7 percent did not know or refused to answer. Minnesotans voiced an equally strong conviction that the project would benefit farmers. The survey found that 71 percent believed the DM&E upgrade

STB Seeking Public Comments on Railroad’s Fuel Surcharge Practices

August 3, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON – The Surface Transportation Board is seeking public comments on several measures the agency proposes to adopt regarding railroad practices involving fuel surcharges. The proposals follow the agency’s May 11, 2006, public hearing about how fuel surcharges are calculated and charged by railroads and the extensive testimony submitted to the agency by the rail industry, the public and railroad customers regarding those practices. Specifically, the STB is proposing that: A railroad wishing to assess a fuel surcharge would need to develop a computation more closely linked to its increased fuel costs attributable to that movement Railroads would be prohibited

STB Planning to Hold Grain Public Hearing

July 28, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Some time this fall, the Surface Transportation Board is planning to hold a public hearing to address "certain issues related to the rail transportation of grain," the agency announced in a news release. The United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) on June 21 released preliminary observations on rates, competition and capacity issues within the American rail freight industry. GAO reported that the changes that have occurred in the rail industry since the Staggers Rail Act of 1980 are widely viewed as positive. The financial health of the industry has improved substantially as railroads have cut costs and boosted

STB Releases Fall Peak Service Plans

July 26, 2006 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has released letters from Class I railroads outlining their “peak season” service plans. In June, Chairman W. Douglas Buttrey sent letters to the chief executive officers of the seven largest railroads and to the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA), asking the railroads to inform the STB of their plans to ascertain the demand for, and to prepare for, the provision of peak-season service; their performance goals for the remainder of 2006 and their plans for achieving those goals; and their plans to communicate their service goals and plans with customers. In

Buttrey Selected as Temporary Chairman of STB

January 1, 2006 The Cross-Tie

The Surface Transportation Board announced Dec. 20 that it has voted to elect Board Member W. Douglas Buttrey to serve as the agency’s Chairman, until President George W. Bush designates a Chairman for the agency.

Settlement for South Dakota Core Line Announced

November 28, 2005 Railfanning.org News Wire

PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Mike Rounds and BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) on Nov. 28 announced a settlement has been reached for the sale of the state-owned Core railroad line to BNSF. “South Dakota producers and shippers will benefit by enhanced transportation access to markets,” Rounds said. “As a condition of the sale, we negotiated a settlement protecting and expanding access to the Core line for our South Dakota shippers. This is access to worldwide markets that our smaller carriers have never before had.” The state will collect approximately $40,337,295 from BNSF for the sale of the Core Line. The proceeds

Railroads Offer 2004 ‘Fall Peak’ Plans

August 10, 2004 Railfanning.org News Wire

Class I Railroads have offered their 2004 “Fall Peak” service plans via a letter sent to Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chairman Roger Nober, the STB announced.

NS and CP: Agreement Will Improve Performance

June 30, 2004 Railfanning.org News Wire

Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) and Norfolk Southern Railway (NSR) on June 30 signed a memorandum of understanding for an exchange of trackage rights, freight haulage and yard services that both railroads say will increase operational efficiency and enhance rail service to customers.

CSX Chairman Calls Conrail Transaction a Success: Calls on STB to End Oversight

May 3, 2004 Railfanning.org News Wire

The Conrail acquisition is a continuing success and the Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) five-year oversight has achieved its goals, Michael Ward, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of CSX Corporation, said May 3.

Norfolk Southern’s Goode Urges an End to Conrail Oversight

May 3, 2004 Railfanning.org News Wire

Noting “the Conrail transaction has been a success,” Norfolk Southern Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer David R. Goode today urged the Surface Transportation Board not to extend its formal regulatory oversight period.