WASHINGTON — The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association has informed the Surface Transportation Board that it intends to participate in the review process of the proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger, although the organization has not indicated what position it might take.
Short lines are individually and collectively are working to determine how the transaction might positively or negatively affect smaller railroads and their customers, the ALSRRA said after filing its notice of intent to participate on Wednesday (Nov. 19).
“On behalf of our members,” ASLRRA President Chuck Baker said in a press release, “ASLRRA will productively engage in the STB process, seeking to enhance competition, improve customer service, and grow rail volume across the U.S. freight rail network by building on successful win-win partnerships between Class Is and short lines.”
The organization say it will work to make sure the merger, either through plans by the applicants or as conditions imposed by the board, addresses impacts on smaller railroads and their customers. Its concerns include short line traffic growth and efficient interchange; frequent and reliable service; and competition across the overall rail network.
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I only see the UP acquisition of NS as an opportunity for Short line’s. UP has already proven that it intends to send more freight down lightly used branch lines where Short line’s have proven that their economic model works better for the railroads they partner with. The agreement in Oregon and a couple of others in the works will provide more business and better service than the larger railroad can provide, especially in locations where the Class 1 and the Shortline are adjacent or sharing the same yard. Yeah, the unions may lose a “cake” assignment on the slower speed track but in the end they will get jobs elsewhere on the system. and the few businesses on these light used lines will see more regular service and switching because the shortlines are in that area all the time… Other railroads should do the same to improve their on-time performance.