California State Rail Plan 2005-06 to 2015-16

2005-06 – 2015-16 California State Rail Plan
railroads. This shift from short line rail to trucks will further congest the State’s
highway system, create more traffic delays, and increase air pollution and highway
maintenance costs. The loss of revenue to short line railroads could force some to
go out of business leaving some California rail shippers without rail services.
The additional truck transportation costs will have to be passed on to consumers,
making goods more costly to purchase.
SHORT LINE BILL OF RIGHTS
The continuing consolidation of Class I railroads is a concern for short line
railroad operators. In 1975, there were 22 Class I railroads operating in the U.S.
Presently, there are eight. Since 1995, the number of Class Is operating in
California has decreased by half, from four to two.
The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) is a
national non-profit trade association representing the interests of over 400 member
short lines and regional railroads. In order to protect the viability of short lines,
ASLRRA expressed to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) its opinion that a
“Short Line Bill of Rights” should be made a condition for the approval of all
future Class I railroad mergers 14 and consolidation transactions. The ASLRRA,
has proposed four rights as follows:
1. Small railroads have the right to compensation for Class I service failures.
2. Short line and regional railroads have a right to interchange and routing
freedom.
3. Short line and regional railroads have the right to competitive and
nondiscriminatory pricing.
4. Short line and regional railroads have a right to fair and nondiscriminatory
car supply.
14 STB ExParte No. 582, Public Views on Major Rail Consolidations, Statement of Frank K. Turner, President,
ASLRRA.
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