Board Wants to Keep Tabs on Saving Old Rail Lines
Published Date: 3/20/2026
Notice
Summary
The Surface Transportation Board wants to keep collecting info to help save rail service on tracks that might be abandoned. This affects shippers, communities, and railroads who rely on these lines. They’re asking for comments by May 19, 2026, and plan to keep the current process without changes—no extra costs or paperwork headaches expected!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.
Feeder Line Application Burden
A feeder line application (to purchase an identified rail line under Sec. 10907) is estimated to take 70 hours per response. The Board reports roughly 1 such filing in the 2023-2025 average, so parties preparing a feeder line application should plan for a 70-hour filing effort.
Continuation of Rail Service Collection
The Surface Transportation Board will continue collecting information under OMB Control No. 2140-0022 to preserve rail service, and it is requesting a 60-day comment period ending May 19, 2026. The collection covers about 25 respondents and imposes an estimated total of 281 burden hours annually, with no identified non-hour costs and the ability to file electronically.
Offer of Financial Assistance Burden
An Offer of Financial Assistance (OFA) filing is estimated to take 46 hours per response, with an average of 2 such filings per year (total 92 hours). This affects parties seeking to subsidize or buy a line under 49 U.S.C. 10904 and requires planning for about two 46-hour efforts annually across respondents.
Trail Use Request Workload
Trail use requests (with extensions) average 23 filings per year at about 5 hours per response, totaling 115 hours annually. The Board also notes an initial interim trail use negotiating period of one year (with possible extensions) for parties using CITU/NITU procedures.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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