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American Services Rail, LLC (ASR), a noncarrier, has submitted a notice to lease and operate a small rail line in Mississippi currently operated by Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, LLC (CRIP). The arrangement allows ASR to function as a common carrier on a specific section and as a contract carrier on additional tracks. ASR affirms that no interchange commitments are involved and that the transaction will not lead to it becoming a larger rail carrier. The transaction is set to take effect on April 9, 2025, with legal precautions in place if any misleading information is found.

Portland & Western Railroad, Inc. (PNWR) has filed a notice to abandon a section of railroad track in Tigard, Oregon, covering about 4,111 feet, as there has been no train traffic on it since 2007. The exemption will take effect in January 2025, provided no objections or offers of financial assistance are received. PNWR has ensured that all environmental, historic, and procedural requirements for the abandonment process have been met. If there are any issues with the notice’s accuracy, the exemption could be invalidated, and any affected employees are entitled to protections.

The Surface Transportation Board has proposed a new measure for how much railroad productivity has changed between 2019 and 2023, suggesting a 1.4% increase per year. This decision, announced on February 28, 2025, is set to take effect on March 20, 2025, unless further orders delay it. The public can submit comments on this proposal by March 17, 2025, through the Board's website. If anyone needs more details or has questions, they can contact Pedro Ramirez at the phone number provided.

The Surface Transportation Board received a prefiling notification regarding a proposed transaction where Norfolk Southern Corporation and Norfolk Southern Railway Company aim to gain control of Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line Railroad Company. After reviewing the February 14, 2025 submission, the Board determined the transaction is "significant" rather than "minor," requiring more detailed information and compliance with different procedures. The Board instructed Norfolk Southern to amend their application, submit a revised procedural schedule by March 21, 2025, and to pay the additional filing fee associated with significant transactions. Additionally, the Board noted concerns from CSX Transportation and the Virginia Port Authority about potential anticompetitive effects.

The Surface Transportation Board announced a meeting of the Passenger Rail Advisory Committee (PRAC) scheduled for May 6, 2025, at their headquarters in Washington, DC. The meeting, held under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, aims to discuss ways to improve passenger rail service efficiency, address disputes between rail carriers, and enhance intercity passenger rail regulations. The public is invited to attend and submit written comments by April 30, 2025. The meeting will cover reports from various subcommittees and explore future issues for study.

Strasburg Rail Road Company (SRC), a Class III rail carrier, has filed a notice seeking an exemption to maintain control over a new entity, SRC Railway LLC, as it becomes a rail carrier. Railway LLC plans to lease and operate a 4.25-mile rail line in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, owned by SRC. This transaction is exempt from certain approval requirements because it involves only Class III carriers, and there is no connection outside the corporate family. The exemption could take effect as soon as January 20, 2021, unless any petitions to revoke it are filed by January 12, 2021.

Paul Didelius, a noncarrier individual, has filed a notice to maintain control over RYAL, LLC once it becomes a Class III rail carrier. This is linked to a separate notice for RYAL to lease and operate a 26-mile rail line in Washington. Didelius confirms that none of the rail systems he controls connect physically and that they are all Class III carriers, which exempts the transaction from certain regulatory approvals. The public can file disputes or petitions related to this exemption, but it won't automatically stop the exemption from taking effect.

The Surface Transportation Board has received a request from the Utah Inland Port Authority to access specific data from the Board's 2019 Masked Carload Waybill Sample. This sample contains confidential information about railroads and shippers, so if anyone wants to object to the request, they must do so within 14 days of this notice by contacting the Board's Office of Economics. The procedures for handling such data are specified in federal regulations.

Dover and Delaware River Railroad, LLC (DDRR), a small railway company, plans to amend its lease agreement with Norfolk Southern Railway Company. This change will not turn DDRR into a larger rail carrier and will involve an interchange commitment. The transaction is set to take effect on January 16, 2025, and people can contest it by filing petitions before that date. The project is exempt from environmental and historical reviews, according to federal regulations.

On January 30, 2024, the Canadian National Railway Company and Grand Trunk Corporation filed an application to take control of Iowa Northern Railway Company. The Surface Transportation Board approved the application, requiring a three-year period of oversight to ensure compliance and effectiveness. During this time, the applicants are obliged to provide regular reports on service, operations, and competition metrics. In response to concerns about confidentiality, the Board adjusted reporting requirements to balance transparency with the protection of sensitive data.