STB reacts to coal-shipper beef with BNSF
Written by Douglas John Bowen
The Western Coal Traffic League (WCTL) has petitioned the Surface Transportation Board to "require BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) to submit to the Board a coal-specific service recovery plan, and for the Board to review, approve or revise, and enforce the recovery plan," according to the STB. WCTL said that BNSF "intends to remove approximately 60 coal train sets from service," despite ongoing service problems.
STB said Washington, D.C.-based WCTL “argues that service disruptions have prevented its BNSF-served members from rebuilding coal stockpiles during the fall in preparation for the winter season, leaving many utilities with less coal in storage than they had at the end of last year.”
WCTL filed its petition to STB on Oct. 22, 2014 (Docket EP_724_0). STB seeks a reply from BNSF no later than Nov. 3, 2014. Comments from other parties are due by the same date.
