Class Is ask federal courts to review STB rate dispute ruling

CSX, Union Pacific Railroad and the U.S. operations of CN have asked the U.S. Court of Appeals to review a recent Surface Transportation Board ruling on small rate disputes.

The railroads filed their appeals in late December, according to notices filed last week with the STB. The railroads are asking the U.S. court to review the STB's Dec. 19 decision to implement a new arbitration program for small rate disputes between railroads and shippers.

CSX filed its appeal Dec. 29 with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit; Grand Trunk Corp. and Illinois Central Railroad Co. (CN) filed Dec. 29 with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit; and UP filed Dec. 27 with the U.S. Court of Appeals of the Eighth District.

The Class Is — along with Norfolk Southern Railway — also have asked the STB to stay its ruling. Although the railroads support the basic goals and structure of the program, they have concerns about it. Specifically, they take issue with a "pre-review opt-in requirement” that railroads commit to the program before knowing what its final content will be.