STB To Hold Hearing on Proposed Reciprocal Switching Regulations

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) will hold a hearing on its newly proposed reciprocal switching regulations on March 15-16, 2022. The regulations adjust the circumstances under which the STB may require the establishment of reciprocal switching.

Under the Board's proposed regulations, the Board would require the establishment of a switching arrangement when the arrangement either is practicable and in the public interest or is necessary to provide competitive rail service. It would no longer be necessary to show anticompetitive conduct for the STB to prescribe reciprocal switching as was previously established in Midtec Paper Corp. v. Chicago & North Western Transportation Co. The STB would instead decide to prescribe reciprocal switching based on several factors that weigh the benefits of a proposed arrangement against its potential detriments.

For more information about the proposed regulations and the March hearing, see the STB’s proposed rule on reciprocal switching. The hearing will begin at 9:30am each morning, March 15-16, 2022. It will be made available to view on the STB’s website.

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