These issues mostly predate the PSR movement. If PSR went away, these issues would still remain.
The first is forced reciprocal switching. Allowing railroad B access to all of railroad A's customers at a point where the two connect, plus a zone extending for a certain length in all directions from where they connect. And the same access for railroad A to railroad B's customers. I think the proposal is 30 miles, although some want it everywhere. Discussed here over the years as Open Access.
I'm not sure about the second item, deregulating certain catagories of freight. The railroads were partially deregulated with the Staggers Act. The STB maintains some oversight, one would think total deegulation would be something they want. I'm missing something, but it's possible that the dereg proposal may transfer some of that oversight from the STB to some other Federal agency. One that might be less favorable to the railroads.
The third is allowing the STB to set rates. Reregulation.
Some or all of the provisions are favored by shipper's groups, especially those made up of large shippers/receivers who would have a hard time (expensive) converting to nonrail transportation.
Jeff
Overmod Personally I think efforts like this are, if anything, counterproductive.
Oh, I don't know....sometimes I wish that back when I was in highschool someone had taken me aside and opened my eyes to the lucrative world of influence peddling. Of course back then we had no way of foreseeing the internet ....but the whole idea of selling someone a shoulder to cry on just never even occurred to me, little naive me....
I have to admit I've never read Adam Smith's "Wealth of Nations," but isn't there a passage in the book where Smith says (in so many words) that if you're in business, and you foul-up big-time you deserve all the trouble you get?
And don't expect others to pull your fat out of the fire like it's a right?
OM, could you explain briefly what what the three STB proposals are?
In my e-mail this evening comes a request from the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association, asking me to e-mail my Congresscritters about the STB hearing on the 12th.
Official page is here. Don't you just love PACs that keep PSR-laden railroads from the consequences of their ongoing 'choices'?
Knock yourself out modifying the ridiculous boilerplate if you like. Personally I think efforts like this are, if anything, counterproductive.
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