SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD PROPOSES NEW RECIPROCAL SWITCHING REGULATIONS

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

http://nitl.org/surface-transportation-board-issues-ruling-on-nitl-reciprocal-switching-proposal/

and

https://www.stb.dot.gov/__85256593004F576F.nsf/0/D34FD3A82F219E8F85257FFD0054A358?OpenDocument

and

https://www.ngfa.org/news/transportation/ngfa-urges-stb-to-change-rules-available-to-shippers-to-challenge-unreasonable-freight-rail-rates/

2

And the thread is locked.

Please repost the article. It is a press release written by an NITL staffer. The main thrust is what a bunch of dirty, low down, evil doers the railroads are. It implies that the new term ‘competitive switching’ was congered up by the NITL when they petitioned the STB.

I skimmed through the STB decision. Basically after five years of contemplation and comment, the STB is offering a proposed rule that gives the NITL about 1% of what it asked for. Short version is that, on a case by case basis, if competition for the traffic is not effective (no definition given but suspect will use 180% R/VC test), then STB will consider opening customer to reciprocal switching.

It still aint over, but the Proposed Rule will not hurt the railroads, or help the shippers, much.

Mac McCulloch