Search Results for agency_names:"Surface Transportation Board"

Louisiana Southern Railroad, L.L.C. (LAS), a small rail company, has filed a notice to continue leasing and operating about 165.8 miles of rail lines from the Kansas City Southern Railway Company (KCS). The lease agreements have been in place since 2005 and were recently amended to extend until November 2034. LAS must meet certain conditions, such as informing employees and unions about the transaction, because their annual revenues exceed $5 million. However, LAS has requested a waiver for the 60-day advance notice requirement, which will be decided separately. The document mentions the possibility of legal challenges but notes that LA's operations are exempt from environmental and historic preservation reporting.

The Lake Providence Port Commission (LPPC), a non-carrier entity in Louisiana, applied to acquire a 20-mile rail line from Delta Southern Railroad. On December 11, 2020, the Board conditionally accepted the application despite missing financial details, requiring these by December 28, 2020. LPPC submitted the necessary information, including a lease agreement with North Louisiana & Arkansas Railroad, enabling the Board to proceed with a scheduling plan for reviewing the application and any competing interests. This decision was finalized to be effective immediately, with public notice to follow in the Federal Register.

Puerto Verde Industrial Railroad, LLC (PVIR), a noncarrier company, plans to operate a 2.43-mile private railroad track in Maverick County, Texas, on the site of a former coal mine. This site, owned by PVIR's affiliate, Farming Hydrasource, LLC, is being converted into an industrial park. Once operational, PVIR will provide carrier services like switching and transloading for local businesses. The railroad's annual revenue is projected to stay under $5 million, classifying it as a Class III rail carrier. The earliest start date for operations under this exemption is January 1, 2025, and certain regulatory reviews do not apply to this project.

East Chicago Rail Terminal, LLC (ECRT) is planning to acquire and operate a small section of railroad track from Chrome, LLC at East Chicago, Indiana. This track is 467 feet long and connects to the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad. ECRT has agreed to this purchase and plans to use the track to provide common carrier rail service to Tri-Star DEF LLC without affecting any future agreements with other carriers. The acquisition is expected to be completed on or after February 26, 2021, and is exempt from environmental and historic reporting requirements.

San Joaquin Valley Railroad Co. (SJVR) has filed for an exemption to continue leasing and operating 101.5 miles of rail lines from Union Pacific Railroad Company. This lease, initially established in 1994 and most recently renewed in 2020, has been extended by a Lease Amendment signed in January 2025, allowing operations to continue for another five years. SJVR's notice also requests a waiver for a 60-day advance notice to labor unions, which will be decided separately. Moreover, SJVR confirms that its projected revenues will not exceed the limit set for a Class III carrier, despite current revenues being over $5 million.

Dakota Northern Railroad, Inc. (DN), a small Class III railroad, plans to lease and operate two rail lines from BNSF Railway Company in North Dakota. The rail lines extend 59.84 miles near Grafton, Walhalla, and St. Thomas, ND. DN is continuing an existing lease and expects to finalize the new lease terms before the current one expires on January 31, 2021, without any interchange commitments. The Surface Transportation Board notes that the transaction may proceed from January 29, 2021, and it won't lead to DN becoming a larger Class I or II rail carrier.

TBL Group, Inc., a holding company that manages several interstate motor passenger carriers, has requested the Surface Transportation Board's approval to acquire Reston Limousine & Travel Service, Inc. The Board is tentatively approving this acquisition, which will become final if no comments are filed by March 31, 2025. The transaction is expected to enhance transportation services by improving operational efficiencies and increasing capacity, without significantly affecting employees or the level of service to the public. If finalized, Reston will continue its operations under its current name.

Mingus Mountain Railroad, LLC (MMRL) has filed a notice to acquire and operate a 38.74-mile rail line from Clarkdale Arizona Central Railroad, L.C. (CACR) in Arizona. MMRL is not a carrier yet but plans to run regular train services and acquire additional trackage rights after this transaction, becoming a Class III rail carrier. They assure that their annual earnings will not exceed $5 million, preventing them from becoming a larger Class I or II carrier. The transaction could be finalized by March 30, 2025, unless issues arise with the details provided in the notice.

On January 22, 2025, Jefferson Partners, L.P., which operates as Jefferson Lines, applied to acquire the assets of Karst Stage, Inc., another passenger bus company. The Surface Transportation Board is tentatively approving this move, allowing Jefferson to continue its operations under a new company, Karst Stage, LLC, while maintaining separate identities but sharing management tasks. The approval is contingent on no opposing comments being filed by April 28, 2025. Jefferson argues this transaction will improve service and efficiency without harming competition or employee interests.

San Joaquin Valley Railroad Co. (SJVR) has filed a notice to continue leasing and operating 101.5 miles of rail lines from Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP). This new lease replaces a previous one from 1994 and includes an interchange commitment. SJVR ensures its revenue won’t exceed the limit for a Class III carrier but admits it currently surpasses $5 million, for which it seeks a waiver on the 60-day labor notice period. This request will be reviewed separately by the Surface Transportation Board, which will set the exemption's effective date.