Surface Transportation Board

CSX seeks STB approval of Pan Am Railways acquisition

A photograph of a train locomotive at a suburban platform.

Eastern U.S. railroad CSX (NASDAQ: CSX) has started the regulatory process to acquire New England short line operator Pan Am Railways in a move that CSX hopes will strengthen its intermodal presence in the region.

The company on Thursday submitted its application to the Surface Transportation Board. The application includes a request both to acquire the Pan Am System, which includes Pan Am Railways, and a 50% ownership of Pan Am Southern (PAS). 

“CSX is excited to introduce our customer-centric...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/csx-seeks-stb-approval-of-pan-am-railways-acquisition

US Class I rail headcount sinks to near decade low

A photograph of a man working in a rail yard.

The number of employees working for the U.S. operations of the Class I railroads in January fell to its lowest level in years, according to data received by the Surface Transportation Board.

U.S. Class I railroad operations had 113,461 employees working in their ranks in January, an 11.6% drop from January 2020 and a 3.7% decline from December. This total is the lowest since January 2012, the earliest date for which FreightWaves has data. January’s total also beat October 2020’s low of 114,960...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/us-class-i-rail-headcount-sinks-to-near-decade-low

Power index: Top 10 Biden appointments affecting freight markets

While almost every cabinet department and a host of federal agencies within the executive branch touch freight and supply chains in some way, these 10 recent appointees by President Joe Biden will likely figure most prominently in steering freight transportation policy as Biden’s administration gets underway. The list is in alphabetical order by last name.

Pete Buttigieg, secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
(Credit: U.S. DOT)

Background: Buttigieg began campaigning for Biden...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/power-index:-top-10-biden-appointments-affecting-freight-markets

STB, new chair urged to modernize freight rail policies

A composite photograph. On the left is a train and on the right is a man.

Martin J. “Marty” Oberman was designated by President Joe Biden on Thursday as chairman of the Surface Transportation Board (STB).

Oberman’s term as an STB member will expire on Jan. 31, 2023. He was sworn in to serve his first term on Jan. 22, 2019, and he became vice chairman on Jan. 6, 2020.

The chairmanship role typically sets the tone for what proceedings and issues the board will focus on for the year.

Trade groups praised Oberman’s appointment. Association of American Railroads (AAR)...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/stb-new-chair-urged-to-modernize-freight-rail-policies

US Class I rail headcount tumbles 14% in 2020

A photograph of a Union Pacific train.

The U.S. operations of the Class I railroads employed the fewest number of employees in 2020 since at least 2012.

Headcount at U.S. Class I rail operations totaled 120,492 employees last year, a 14% decrease compared with 140,185 employees in 2019, according to data that companies provided to the Surface Transportation Board (STB). This annual average was the lowest since at least 2012, the earliest year that FreightWaves has data available. 

Within that total, headcount for train and engine...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/us-class-i-rail-headcount-tumbles-14-in-2020

Schultz sworn in to round out Surface Transportation Board

A photograph of a train passing by a railroad crossing.

Michelle Schultz was sworn in Monday as the newest member of the Surface Transportation Board.

Her appointment follows that of Robert Primus, who was sworn in last week. 

Schultz’s appointment enables the board to have five members, which is the full complement of members that STB can have under federal guidelines. Until now, the board hasn’t had five members since federal law changed the membership roster in 2015 from three board members to five. Having five members enables board members to meet...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/schultz-sworn-in-to-round-out-surface-transportation-board

STB, IANA announce leadership appointments

A photograph of a train hauling intermodal containers.

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) and the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) announced appointments this week.

Surface Transportation Board gets new member

Robert Primus is officially a member of the Surface Transportation Board. House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn, D-S.C., officiated the swearing-in ceremony Thursday.

Primus was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Nov. 18. Another nominee, Michelle Schultz, is pending confirmation.

Primus most recently worked as chief of staff to...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/stb-iana-announce-leadership-appointments

Rail shippers give policy wish list for 2021

A photograph of a train hauling intermodal containers.

With a new year and a new White House administration ahead, rail shippers and industry observers say these are some key issues they hope will be addressed soon:

Issues before the Surface Transportation Board

Rail shippers and others are looking forward to having a full complement of five members on the Surface Transportation Board (STB). Although it’s still uncertain how the two new members, Robert Primus and Michelle Schultz, will respond to issues, having “fresh eyes” on the several outstanding...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/rail-shippers-give-policy-wish-list-for-2021

Class I rail headcount plunges to new low in November

A photograph of a train crossing over a bridge. The train is hauling intermodal containers.

Employee headcount among the U.S. operations of the Class I railroads in November was at its lowest level since at least early 2012.

U.S. operations of the Class I railroads employed 114,960 in mid-November, which is 13.7% lower than November 2019 and 1.58% lower than October, according to data submitted to the Surface Transportation Board. 

November’s total is the lowest in 2020 and the lowest total since January 2012, which is the earliest date for which FreightWaves has data.

All six employee...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/class-i-rail-headcount-plunges-to-new-low-in-november

Amtrak’s on-time performance metric needs tweaks: AAR

A photograph of an Amtrak train traveling across a grassy field.

Although the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has finalized the rule that defines on-time performance metrics for Amtrak, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) is hoping some outstanding issues will be addressed following the rule’s implementation.

One of the issues is ensuring that Amtrak’s published schedule for the traveling public gets updated so that it can better align with FRA’s on-time performance (OTP) metrics.

“While the proposed rule uses published schedules to measure the...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/amtraks-on-time-performance-metric-needs-tweaks-aar

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