NIT LEAGUE, ARC UNITE TO IMPROVE RAIL COMPETITION

NIT LEAGUE, ARC UNITE TO IMPROVE RAIL COMPETITION    The National Industrial Transportation League and the Alliance for Rail Competition have joined forces to expand their lobbying power on Capitol Hill and to increase their influence with regulatory agencies that oversee rail competition.
   The result is the formation of the Coalition for Rail-to-Rail Competition. The coalition will be managed by a steering committee comprised of equal representation from both groups. Ed Emmett, president of NIT League, will serve as the coalition’s spokesman and will coordinate lobbying efforts.
   “The league and ARC have different strengths, but share the same objectives,” said Terry Whiteside, chairman of the Alliance for Rail Competition. “This coalition will allow each participating group to focus those strengths on shared goals in a fully coordinated manner.”
   The coalition’s “vision” is to:
   * Have an efficient rail industry where rail customers have competitive choice.
   * Support a safe, growing, and financially strong rail industry.
   * Support the elimination of “monopolistic practices” under the Staggers Rail Act.
   “This is not about shippers versus railroads,” Emmett said. “This about insuring a healthy, competitive rail industry for the future.”
   The coalition’s “mission” is to:
   * Promote unity among rail customers on the issue of freedom of competitive choice.
   * Create a forum to build consensus on principles, strategy and direction.
   * Improve the effectiveness of rail customers in developing rail-to-rail competition.
   * Create the momentum for change.
   The NIT League is one of the oldest and largest organizations in the United States, which represents the transportation policy interests of companies that ship their cargo with carriers. The Alliance for Rail Competition was formed in 1997 as an association representing the competitive rail issues of agriculture, coal, chemical, petrochemical, and utility shippers.