Florida Train Company Finally Fixes Decade-Old Track Rights Oversight
Published Date: 1/15/2026
Notice
Summary
South Central Florida Express (SCFE) is renewing and updating its rights to use tracks owned by Florida East Coast Railway (FECR) in Florida. These rights let SCFE run trains on specific parts of the line between Ft. Pierce and Lake Harbor, including adding new customers. SCFE missed getting official approval back in 2016 but fixed that now, so everything’s official and good to go without extra costs or delays.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Rail Access Expanded for Florida Shippers
If you run a business along the Florida East Coast Railway line, SCFE can operate trains on the line from milepost K-0.0 near Ft. Pierce to milepost K-70.9 near Lake Harbor. SCFE has local rights specifically between milepost K-15.0 and K-70.9 and may add new customers in that segment. The exemption may be used on or after January 29, 2026.
Worker Protections Applied to Affected Employees
If you are a railroad employee affected by SCFE's acquisition of the trackage rights, you will be protected by the labor conditions set in prior Board decisions (Norfolk & Western Railway, 1978, and Mendocino Coast Railway, 1980). These protections are a condition of the exemption.
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