STB aims to mandate weekly performance reports from Class Is

The U.S. Surface Transportation Board has filed a supplemental notice to a proposed rulemaking that would require Class I railroads and the Chicago Transportation Coordination Office to submit weekly data reports on service performance.    The U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB) is proposing a requirement that Class I railroads, as well as the Chicago Transportation Coordination Office (CTCO), submit service data reports on a weekly basis.
   The STB issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking that would make permanent an interim requirement that major railroads and CTCO file public weekly performance reports that began in October 2014 in the wake of a rail service crisis during the winter of 2013 and spring of 2014.
   The decision came after STB temporarily waived the rules in order to allow for comments from the rail industry.
   “These sessions allowed staff to talk candidly with railroads, shippers and other interested parties to gain additional insight into the utility of the interim reporting, to learn more about railroad data-keeping and performance measurement practices, and to discuss technical issues raised by the proposed rulemaking,” STB said in a statement.
   The board said it will accept opening comments on the latest proposal until May 31 and replay comments until June 28, and expects to issue final regulations shortly thereafter.
   “The railroads’ reporting of service performance data on an interim basis has been very useful to the board in monitoring the industry’s recovery from the severe service downturn of 2013-2014,” said STB Chairman Daniel Elliott III said of the proposed rule. “It also provides us with a near real-time perspective on the pulse of the industry, and benefits rail customers and other stakeholders in the same way.”
   “The rules proposed today will promote transparency going forward, and enhance the Board’s ability to detect and respond to service issues,” Elliott added.