US House bill orders study of rail operating model

摘要

Democrats in the US House of Representatives have responded to a chorus of shipper complaints about a new railroad operat- ing model by inserting language in a $494bn transportation bill to direct regulators to study the issue. The provision would require the Government Account- ability Office to examine how shippers are being affected by operating and scheduling changes sparked by freight railroads’ implementation of the precision scheduled railroading model. The study also would analyze the increased demurrage and ac- cessorial fees that shippers are being forced to pay, as well as any ramifications for rail service quality or reliability.