Freight and Passenger Rail

Impact Associates brings extensive experience mediating complex, high-dollar matters before the Surface Transportation Board (STB). We’ve worked with major industry stakeholders, including Amtrak, BNSF, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, CSX, Norfolk Southern, and Union Pacific, to resolve multi-party disputes involving significant operational and financial issues. Our practice focuses on helping parties resolve disputes efficiently, avoiding the cost of litigation, and achieving shared economic and operational goals. Matters have included:

• Restoration of passenger rail service between New Orleans and Mobile involving a passenger carrier, two Class I freight railroads, and a state port.

• Freight and passenger rail operating agreements, including access, usage, and compensation terms.

• Land use and construction exemptions, including solid waste rail transfer station permitting.

• Petitions for rail line abandonment and STB-ordered line acquisitions.

• Rate and competition disputes between shippers and Class I freight carriers.

• Partial exemption revocations related to commodity-specific rail transport.

• Trackage rights, operating rights, and infrastructure cost-sharing between freight railroads.