STB asks railroads to explain their peak season strategies

Roger Nober, chairman of the Surface Transportation Board (STB), has asked each of the seven largest North American railroads to report to the Board within 30 days on their plans to meet the expected increase in demand during the fall peak shipping season. Nober has made a similar request of the association that represents the nation's small and regional railroads.

“This year, as last, the demand for rail services continues to grow, and is straining the ability of our railroads to meet that growing demand,” Nober notes. “At the same time, the shipping community and our economy as a whole depends on reliable and efficient freight rail service. Therefore, I am again asking the railroads to submit to us their operational plans for handling the fall peak and capital plans for relieving bottlenecks, so that our agency, rail shippers and railroad stakeholders may all understand how the railroads plan to meet demand.

"This is the second year that the STB has sought this information, Nober points out. “The Congressional Budget Office praised our efforts in monitoring the fall peak last year and said that it 'may have prompted the railroads to enhance their efforts to meet demand.' I believe it did just that, which is a good reason to seek these plans again."

To read Nober’s letter to the railroads, click here: www.stb.dot.gov/stb/docs/fallpeakletter2005.pdf