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Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) April 24 introduced to the Senate Railroad Competition, Arbitration and Service Act of 2002 (S. 2245), which would amend title 49 of the U.S. Code to enhance rail competition.
The bill was referred to the Senate's Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.
S. 2245 would aim to ensure effective competition among rail carriers at origins and destinations; maintain reasonable rail rates where effective competition among railroads hasn't been achieved; help maintain consistent and efficient rail service for shippers; establish arbitration procedures for rate, service and other disputes; and eliminate competition barriers — such as prohibiting the creation of paper barriers — between Class Is, and Class IIs and IIIs.
The bill is similar to Railroad Competition Act of 2001 (S. 1103), which was introduced to the Senate in June 2001 but so far hasn't been approved by Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.
S. 1103 would clarify Surface Transportation Board's policy by requiring the board to accord greater weight to the need for increased rail competition, and consider more-consistent and efficient rail service in its decision making; amend title 49 to eliminate unreasonable competition barriers among railroads serving the same geographic areas; and ensure reasonable rail rates for captive shippers by removing unnecessary regulatory burdens from STB's rate-reasonableness procedures.