STB orders four Class Is to provide more detailed service recovery plans

The Surface Transportation Board yesterday ordered BNSF Railway Co., CSX, Norfolk Southern Railway and Union Pacific Railroad to correct deficiencies in their rail service recovery plans filed in response to a board order issued May 6.

The STB had required the four Class Is to develop the plans in response to severe service problems occurring across their networks. The board is also ordering the railroads to provide more information on their actions to improve service and communications with customers, as well as more detailed information on what they're doing to hire more workers to provide reliable rail service.

The service recovery plans, together with the additional requested information, are crucial components of the board’s efforts to ensure that the large rail carriers overcome significant service challenges affecting many rail users and the public, STB officials said in a press release.

In April, the STB held a two-day hearing on shippers' complaints about problems with recent rail service. In response, the board asked the four Class Is to file service recovery plans that would specifically describe their remedial initiatives and promote a clearer vantage point into operating conditions on the rail network.

"Unfortunately, these four carriers submitted plans that were perfunctory and lacked the level of detail that was mandated by the board’s order," STB officials said. "The plans generally omitted important information needed to assure the board and rail industry stakeholders that the largest railroads are addressing their deficiencies and have a clear and measurable trajectory for doing so."

Of particular concern was UP's and NS's refusal to provide six-month targets for achieving performance goals, STB officials said.

"Because of the plans’ shortcomings, the board finds it necessary to require the railroads to supplement their plans and provides explicit further instruction on the critical information they must include," they added.