Railroads Get 1.5% Productivity Boost in Cost Recovery Math
Published Date: 4/3/2026
Notice
Summary
The Surface Transportation Board says railroads got 1.5% more productive each year from 2020 to 2024. This new productivity number will affect how railroads recover their costs starting April 18, 2026, unless someone spots a mistake and files a comment by April 15. Railroads and anyone tracking their costs should pay attention to this update—it could change the money railroads can charge.
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
1.5% Productivity Adjustment Adopted
If you operate a railroad or track railroad costs, the Surface Transportation Board adopted a productivity change of 1.015 (1.5% per year) for the 2020–2024 period. That number will affect how railroads recover their costs starting April 18, 2026, unless the Board issues a postponement. Comments about data or calculation errors must be filed by April 15, 2026.
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