Hernando, Miss.-based Rock Island—a rail carrier and short line holding company that offers switching, railcar storage, locomotive maintenance, railcar fleet management, and railroad management services—will take over for BNGR and provide local rail service through March 31, 2024, along a 37.26-mile line in Oklahoma. (Rock Island Photograph)

Rock Island to Operate Temporarily for BNGR in Oklahoma

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) is permitting the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific (Rock Island) to provide service for 30 days over rail line owned by the state of Oklahoma and the

Savage Tooele Railroad Company has proposed reinstituting common carrier freight rail service over an approximately six-mile segment of the former “Warner Branch” (abandoned in 1983 by UP predecessor Western Pacific Railroad Company), and to construct approximately five miles of new railroad line within the Lakeview Business Park, which has been under development since 2020 in Tooele County, Utah. (STB Photograph)

STB Issues Final EA for Proposed 11-Mile Utah Rail Line

The Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) Office of Environmental Analysis has released a Final Environmental Assessment (EA) for Savage Tooele Railroad Company’s proposal to construct and operate an 11-mile rail line in Tooele County, Utah. The STB will use the assessment to help determine whether or not to approve the project.

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Shippers Back Fuchs’ Renomination to STB

Republican Patrick J. Fuchs, who was nominated late last month by President Joe Biden for a second term on the Surface Transportation Board (STB), now has shipper support for Senate confirmation. Fuchs

From left to right: Kristen Monaco, Director of the STB Office of Economics; Warren Randolph, Chief Data Officer at the NTSB; and Jen Adler, Director of the NTSB Office of Safety Recommendations and Communications.

People News: STB, NTSB

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has appointed an Office of Economics Director, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has hired its first Chief Data Officer and a new Director for its Office of Safety Recommendations and Communications.

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Okla., BIA Petition STB to Allow Emergency Operator for Blackwell Subdivision

The State of Oklahoma, by and through the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT), and the Blackwell Industrial Authority (BIA) have petitioned the Surface Transportation Board (STB) for an emergency order allowing the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, LLC (Rock Island) to provide local rail service on the Blackwell Subdivision, 35.3 miles of rail lines owned by ODOT and BIA and leased to the Blackwell Northern Gateway Railroad Company (BNGR).

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STB Orders New Status Report on Amtrak Gulf Coast Service

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on Feb. 26 decided the Amtrak Gulf Coast Service proceeding will remain in abeyance and directed the parties to file a joint status report by March 15 covering issues raised during this month’s hearing on the slow pace of getting two Amtrak trains in each direction running between New Orleans and Mobile.

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Sanimax, UP Reach Settlement; STB Dismisses Case (UPDATED 2/16)

Sanimax USA LLC and Union Pacific (UP) on Feb. 12 told the Surface Transportation Board (STB) they have settled their dispute and jointly requested that Sanimax’s common carrier complaint be dismissed with prejudice and the proceeding be dropped. STB on Feb. 15 approved.

What’s the Status of Amtrak Gulf Coast Service? (UPDATED 2/9, with Commentary)

Work is still under way on settlement terms and conditions for launching Amtrak’s Gulf Coast service between New Orleans and Mobile, “America’s Railroad,” CSX, Norfolk Southern (NS), and Alabama State Port Authority

(Mass Coastal Photograph)

Mass Coastal Acquiring Bay Colony Assets

Massachusetts Coastal Railroad, LLC (Mass Coastal) is purchasing assets of Bay Colony Railroad, which serves North Dartmouth and Millis, Mass.

Andrew Brady (left) will succeed Printz Bolin (right) as UP's Vice President-External Relations.

UP Appoints Brady to VP-External Relations; Bolin to Retire

Union Pacific (UP) on Feb. 8 announced that it has appointed Andrew Brady to Vice President-External Relations, following the retirement of Printz Bolin at the end of February.

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