Tracks to Nowhere: Central Railroad Dumps Kokomo Side Lines
Published Date: 3/9/2026
Notice
Summary
The Central Railroad Company of Indianapolis is officially ending service on two short rail lines in Kokomo, Indiana, totaling about 1.77 miles. This change affects local businesses and residents near zip code 46903 and clears the way for the railroad to stop maintaining these tracks soon. After fixing a small paperwork hiccup, the railroad is moving forward with the abandonment, with official deadlines and notices now set.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Rail Service Ends on 1.77 Miles in Kokomo
The Central Railroad Company of Indianapolis is abandoning two rail segments totaling about 1.77 miles in Kokomo, Indiana (Zip Code 46903). This clears the way for the railroad to stop maintaining and operating those tracks effective April 8, 2026 unless a formal expression of intent to file an offer of financial assistance is received by March 19, 2026.
Worker Protections Required for Affected Employees
Any employee adversely affected by the abandonment will be protected under the Oregon Short Line employee-protection condition (360 I.C.C. 91 (1979)). A petition for partial revocation under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d) can be filed to challenge whether those protections are adequate.
Deadlines to Seek to Preserve Service or File Offers
Interested parties must file a formal expression of intent to file an offer of financial assistance (OFA) and requests for stays or interim trail use by March 19, 2026; comments on the Draft Environmental Assessment were due March 9, 2026. If CERA does not file a notice of consummation by March 9, 2027, the authority to abandon will automatically expire.
City Plans to Acquire Lines for Trail Use
The City of Kokomo has stated it intends to acquire the abandoned lines for trail use, and it filed a request for interim trail use/railbanking on January 28, 2026. The City's trail request and any public use conditions will be addressed in a subsequent Surface Transportation Board decision.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-17004, Notice of Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee Vacancies
The Surface Transportation Board is looking to fill two open spots on its Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee—one for biofuel experts and one for coal producers. If you or someone you know fits the bill, nominations are due by September 17, 2026. This is a great chance to help shape how energy moves by rail, with no cost to apply and a voice in important transportation decisions.
2026-16620, Regulatory Agenda
The Chairman of the Surface Transportation Board (STB or Board) is publishing the Regulatory Flexibility Agenda.
2026-16276, Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern Railroad, Inc.-Acquisition and Operation Exemption-State of South Dakota
2026-16109, Release of Waybill Data
2026-16128, Town of Gloster, Miss.-Acquisition Exemption-Line of Gloster Southern Railroad Company, LLC
2026-14758, Colby Nitterhouse-Continuance in Control Exemption-NPJ Rail, LLC; PNGT Rail, LLC; and WCN Rail, LLC
Colby Nitterhouse, who doesn’t currently control any railroads, is set to take charge of three small rail companies: NPJ Rail, PNGT Rail, and WCN Rail. This move lets Nitterhouse keep control as these companies become official Class III rail carriers. The paperwork was updated recently, and no big money changes or delays are expected.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-04509, Notice of Proposed Information Collection Request: Guidelines for IMLS Grants to States Five-Year Evaluation
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) wants your thoughts on their plan to collect info for a big five-year checkup on their Grants to States program. This helps make sure the paperwork is easy and useful, saving time and money for everyone involved. If you’re connected to libraries or museums getting these grants, now’s your chance to speak up before May 9, 2026!
Next: 2026-04511, Information Collection Request; Emergency Relief Program (ERP) 2022
The Farm Service Agency is updating its paperwork for the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) 2022 to check that farmers who got help are following new rules about crop insurance for the next two years. Even though the application period ended in August 2024, they still need info to make sure everyone plays by the rules. This update affects farmers who received ERP aid and could impact how they stay eligible for future support.