Category Archives: Rail

STB rolls out proposed reciprocal switching regulations

The proposed new regulations are opposed by the AAR as we might expect. Rules have not been updated since 1985. The finding is a small modification. Rails who want switching from another line need only show it is in the interest of lowering overall costs, not that the other line is behaving monopolistically.

Something must be done to loosen up the switching rules.  Rails argue that it would be costly and prevent them from making large capital investments. But when you consider that since the 1880’s rails have benefited from free land …

I agree with the last paragraph in the article:  this rule should keep the lawyers busy!

www.logisticsmgmt.com 2016-07-29 09-49-14  New regulations focused around reciprocal switching were proposed by the Department of Transportation’s Surface Transportation Board (STB) yesterday.

Source: STB rolls out proposed reciprocal switching regulations

Thanks to author Jeff Berman for the article!

On southwestern fringe, China’s Silk Road ambitions face obstacles

Here is an example of the difficulty of building a major infrastructure improvement, in this case, a rail line from China to Thailand and thence to Singapore.  Who’s got the money?

The answer is no one; and so they can’t agree on terms that advantage all of them fairly.  One interesting factor is land use rights.  Thailand and Laos will not give the Chinese land development rights on each side of the rail line.  Those were expected to help the Chinese pay for the route.  I think those countries are right to retain their sovereignty over the land.

screenshot-www.reuters.com 2016-06-07 08-17-27    Source: On southwestern fringe, China’s Silk Road ambitions face obstacles | Reuters

California Sustainable Freight Action Plan

California has released its Sustainable Freight Action Plan. It’s a great project, and as usual, the state is a leader, here making significant moves guiding improvement in the freight transportation triple bottom line.

screenshot-dot.ca.gov 2016-05-23 10-27-38

Source: California Sustainable Freight Action Plan  Read it online at the link. Here’s the actual plan:  pdf-icon-logo1  cfmp_appendix-complete

screenshot-metrans CITT logo 2016-05-23 10-59-49   Here’s a white paper from California State University Long Beach which was used in the deliberations.  PDF icon logoFreight Efficiency White Papers_Final Version