STB extends reporting rule for Class I service, employment data

The Surface Transportation Board on May 1 extended a temporary reporting period through Dec. 31 requiring Class Is to submit rail service performance and employment data to the board.

Last year, the STB began closely monitoring the Class Is' weekly rail service performance data after receiving numerous complaints from shippers about inconsistent and unreliable service from BNSF Railway Co., CSX, Norfolk Southern Railway and Union Pacific Railroad.

As part of that monitoring, the board required the four carriers to submit service recovery plans, weekly and/or biweekly reports on service performance indicators and updates on employee hiring trends. The board extended its weekly and biweekly reporting requirement a few times, with the last period set to expire May 5.

In its May 1 ruling, the STB noted that recent data indicates NS is not meeting its one-year targets for service improvement, BNSF and UP are meeting some of their one-year targets and CSX is meeting nearly all its one-year targets.

"Overall, the data for key performance indicators — such as velocity, terminal dwells, first-mile/last-mile service, operating inventory and trip plan compliance — show that railroad operations remain challenged generally," the STB decision states. "At this time, therefore, continued monitoring is needed."

Specifically, the STB wants BNSF, NS and UP to submit biweekly service progress reports through Dec. 31; all Class Is to submit weekly performance data and monthly employment data through Dec. 31; and BNSF, NS and UP to include trainee data in their monthly employment data.

Meanwhile, in a separate ruling the STB this week denied requests from Chicago commuter railroad Metra and BNSF to allow third-party participation in an upcoming technical conference between STB staff and Canadian Pacific Kansas City representatives. The conference is being held as the board determines how it will oversee certain conditions it required as part of its approval in March of the Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern merger. The two Class Is officially became CPKC on April 14.

The May 8 conference between STB staff and CPKC will go over the kinds of technical information that will be required and collected as part of the board's oversight. On April 4, Metra asked the STB to allow it to participate in the technical conference to provide input on the kind of data that the STB will collect from CPKC. Then on April 19, BNSF told the STB that it supports Metra's request.

CPKC followed up on April 24 with an objection to third parties being permitted to attend the meeting.

In its decision, the STB said that while the conference will not be open to third parties, it will be transcribed and added to the public record, but "redacted as appropriate."