U.S. regulator to meet next month with disgruntled railroad customers

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

U.S. MARCH 16, 2018 / 7:16 PM / 2 DAYS AGO

U.S. regulator to meet next month with disgruntled railroad customers

Eric M. Johnson
3 MIN READ

SEATTLE (Reuters) - The top U.S. railways regulator plans to hold a series of meetings with disgruntled shippers and other customers starting next month, after fresh complaints over service delays and higher costs from automotive and grain lobby groups.

The Surface Transportation Board’s last major public hearing was in October and focused on service issues at the CSX Corp railroad. The new meetings signal the agency could be open to new paths to relieve shipper pain.

Reuters reported two weeks ago that a drive to cut costs and boost margins at CSX, Norfolk Southern Corp, and Union Pacific Corp was hurting some of America’s largest rail customers. Still, Wall Street investors have applauded the cuts.

National Grain and Feed Association President Randall Gordon said on Friday he welcomed the news of next month’s meetings.

Gordon told the STB in a letter on March 10 that Warren Buffett’s BNSF Railway Co grain trains bound for the Pacific Northwest have been significantly delayed, and service in the Houston area was depleted by locomotive and crew shortages.

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Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-railroads-stb/u-s-regulator-to-meet-next-month-with-disgruntled-railroad-customers-idUSKCN1GS2WT

[elleng]

1. 'a series of meetings with disgruntled shippers and other customers starting next month'

The STB announced the upcoming meetings in a notice posted on its website Thursday, saying they would last through June. The agency said it wanted to hear whether current regulations that allow it to impose changes on a railroad to improve service go far enough.

“The Board is interested in exploring through informal discussions whether and how the agency’s current directed service regulations need to be modified to offer a more meaningful path of relief,” STB spokesman Dennis Watson said.'

Not sure why characterized as 'meetings,' where there would be give and take; sounds more like 'hearings.' Interesting.

[Wellstone ruled]

2. Interesting to say the least.

Crew shortages,wonder why? Knowing the work schedules that are required,damn tough to recruit people when the can work forty hours at other jobs making the same pay. And your stress level is minimal. Railroading is a hurry up and wait business . Yes the Senior people get the better work hours,which is the way things work,but,when you are on the bottom rung,well it is on heck of a long day of waiting for that crew call.