STB seeks details from CSX for service problems

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on Monday wrote its second letter to CSX President and Chief Executive Officer E. Hunter Harrison to express the agency's continued concern over the "widespread degradation of rail service" across the Class I's network.

Late last month, the STB wrote to Harrison about reported disruptions in rail service that resulted from changes to CSX's operating plan. Harrison began implementing the plan after taking over as CSX's leader earlier this year.

Since the first letter, CSX senior management have been speaking weekly with STB staff to review the railroad's network and informal complaints about service from rail shippers.

However, the information CSX has been supplying to date has not been detailed enough to adequately assess the status of rail service. The board would like more detailed data that addresses performance indicators, Monday's letter stated.

Specifically, the board wants performance data on train on-time departure and on-time arrival; car connection; hump and major yards; car ordering; interchanges at key gateways; last miles; equipment and personnel resources; and weekly number of problem logs related to car delays, missed switches and bad-order cars.

In addition, the board asked CSX to provide by Aug. 24 a detailed schedule for the remaining implementation of its new operating plan, including key action items and milestones for the rest of this year.

After the STB's first letter was issued, Harrison apologized to shippers for CSX's service problems. In his letter, Harrison blamed service disruptions on some employees' resistance to the company's ongoing restructuring plan.