This article comes from NGFA's June 9th newsletter.
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) this week outlined its plans for 2023 in response to an inquiry from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack regarding freight rail service challenges and the impacts on agricultural shippers.
In a May 31 letter to Secretary Vilsack, STB members said they expect to act on reciprocal switching rules and revisions to emergency service orders this year.
They said further action on reciprocal switching rules is anticipated in August 2023. Under this proceeding, the Board is considering whether and how to allow a party to seek a reciprocal switching prescription “that is either practicable and in the public interest or necessary to provide competitive rail service.”
NGFA has testified before the STB that finalizing reciprocal switching rules would increase rail-to-rail competition by allowing agricultural shippers served by a single railroad to request bids from a nearby competing railroad. STB’s proposal has been pending since 2016.
Regarding its proposed rule for expedited relief for service emergencies, Board members said they expect to take further action in July 2023. STB issued this proposed rule in April 2022 to improve its process to provide relief in times of emergency and “to ease the burden on rail customers seeking such relief.”
STB’s letter outlined several other proceedings underway, including those related to first-mile/last-mile service and private railcar use.
“The Board will continue to closely monitor the nation’s rail service and the progress made by the railroads, and is prepared to take further action, including increased data collection, as necessary,” STB members concluded.