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>From the Surface Transportation Board, Washington, D.C.
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The Surface Transportation Board will hear two oral arguments on May 12,
2011 at its Washington, D.C. headquarters.
The first case concerns a challenge by Canadian
National Railway Company to an arbitration award that
the company says would block a planned consolidation
of its Troy, Mich., and Homewood, Ill., dispatching
facilities. The American Train Dispatchers Association
opposes the challenge, saying the arbitrator correctly
found that CN has not upgraded its dispatching system
and trained its dispatchers in a way that would allow
the consolidation to proceed. The case is [<a
href="http://www.stb.dot.gov/decisions/readingroom.nsf/WebDecisionID/41519?OpenDocument";>Canadian
National Railway Company, Grand Trunk Corporation, and Grand Trunk Western
Railroad IncorporatedâControlâIllinois Central
Corporation, Illinois Central Railroad Company,
Chicago, Central and Pacific Railroad Company, and
Cedar River Railroad Company (Arbitration Review),
Docket No. FD 33556 (Sub-No. 5)</a>].
The second case centers around the proposal by GNP
Rly, Inc., to acquire the right to restore rail
service over two segments of railroad right-of-way
that are currently reserved for a recreational trail.
GNP is asking the Board to vacate the Notice of
Interim Trail Use it issued for these segments so the
carrier can serve freight customers. King County,
Wash., the trail sponsor, and the City of Redmond,
Wash., oppose the request, saying that GNP does not
own the right-of-way or have any other contractual
rights to it, and so is not in a position to resume
rail service. The case is [<a
href="http://www.stb.dot.gov/decisions/readingroom.nsf/WebDecisionID/41520?OpenDocument";>GNP
Rly, Inc.âAcquisition and Operation ExemptionâRedmond Spur and Woodinville
Subdivision, Docket No. FD 35407</a>].
Each side in these cases will have 20 minutes to argue
its position and to respond to questions from Board
Members, similar to proceedings in federal appellate
courts. The oral argument is scheduled to begin at
9:30 a.m. in the hearing room at STB headquarters, 395
E Street, S.W., in Washington. Though the proceedings
are open to the public, only counsel for the parties
to the cases will be permitted to speak. Photo
identification is necessary to enter the building.
A live video broadcast of the oral argument will be
available via the Board's website at www.stb.dot.gov.
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