Railroads Get a Price Tweak: Bureaucracy Rolls On
Published Date: 3/24/2026
Notice
Summary
Starting April 1, 2026, the Surface Transportation Board is rolling out the new rail cost adjustment factors for the second quarter, which help track how much it costs railroads to operate. This update affects the biggest rail companies and can influence shipping prices and contracts. The numbers show slight cost changes, keeping the rail industry’s pricing fair and up-to-date.
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Quarterly Rail Cost Index Updated
Starting April 1, 2026, the Surface Transportation Board adopted new rail cost adjustment factor (RCAF) numbers for the second quarter of 2026. The RCAF (Unadjusted) is 1.016, the RCAF (Adjusted) is 0.388, and the RCAF-5 is 0.368. If you run a business that ships by rail or buy goods moved by the biggest rail companies, these index numbers can influence shipping prices and contract adjustments.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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