Railroad Competition and Service Improvement Act of 2007

A bill to amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure competition in the rail industry, enable rail customers to obtain reliable rail service, and provide those customers with a reasonable process for challenging rate and service disputes.

3/21/2007--Introduced.
Railroad Competition and Service Improvement Act of 2007 - Sets forth Surface Transportation Board directives calling for effective competition among rail carriers and reliable rail transportation service for rail customers.
Requires a rail carrier, upon shipper request, to establish rates for transportation and provide requested service between any two points on the carrier's system. Prohibits the Board from issuing a certificate authorizing construction and operation of railroad lines, short line purchases by Class II and Class III rail carriers, or consolidation, merger, and acquisition of control of rail carriers, or exempt from such certificate requirements any person, transaction, or service with respect to such activity, if the activity involves a transfer of interest in a line of railroad, from a Class I rail carrier to a Class II or III rail carrier, and the activity would:
(1) restrict the ability of the Class II or Class III rail carrier to interchange traffic with other rail carriers;
(2) restrict competition of rail carriers in the region affected by the activity in a manner that would violate U.S. antitrust laws; or
(3) require higher per car interchange rates for Class II or Class III rail carriers to interchange traffic with other rail carriers. Prescribes procedures for Board review of any activity alleged to have resulted in a restriction of competition.
Makes mandatory (currently, discretionary) entry by rail carriers into reciprocal switching agreements where the Board finds it is practicable and in the public interest, or where such agreements are necessary to provide competitive rail service. Requires the Board to designate any state or substantial part of a state as an area of inadequate rail competition after making certain findings.
Requires the Board to post rail service complaints on its website.
Sets forth time limits for the Board to act on complaints filed alleging unlawfulness of a new or revised rail rate, rule, or practice.
Establishes the Office of Rail Customer Advocacy.
Grants rail customers access to a Board process for determining rail rate reasonableness in railroad market dominance cases.
Requires submission to arbitration of certain rail rate, service, and other disputes.
Authorizes the Board to investigate rail carrier violations on its own initiative (under current law, the Board is authorized to investigate only on complaint). Requires the Board (currently, discretionary) to initiate an investigation upon receiving a complaint alleging rail carrier violations.


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Sponsor

• Sen. John Rockefeller [D, WV]
• and 11 Co-Sponsors
  • Sen. Max Baucus [D, MT]
  • Sen. Maria Cantwell [D, WA]
  • Sen. Larry Craig [R, ID]
  • Sen. Michael Crapo [R, ID]
  • Sen. Byron Dorgan [D, ND]
  • Sen. Tim Johnson [D, SD]
  • Sen. Amy Klobuchar [D, MN]
  • Sen. Mary Landrieu [D, LA]
  • Sen. Jon Tester [D, MT]
  • Sen. John Thune [R, SD]
  • Sen. David Vitter [R, LA]
  close

Committees

• Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation
• 1 more
  • Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation
  close

Amendments

This bill has no amendments.

Amendments to S.953

Number	Status	Purpose

Bill Status

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Introduced		Voted on by Senate		Voted on by House		Considered By President		Bill Becomes Law
March 21, 2007

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All Bill Actions

• Oct 23, 2007: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Senate Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security. Hearings held.
• Mar 21, 2007: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
• Mar 21, 2007: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3527-3528)
• Introduced on Mar 21, 2007.
• Mar 21, 2007: Introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3527-3528)

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Related Bills:

• H.R.2125

Related Issue Areas:

• Transportation
• Administrative fees
• Administrative procedure
• Budgets
• 18 more
• Business
• Commercial arbitration
• Competition
• Congress
• Congressional reporting requirements
• Damages
• Department of Transportation
• Executive departments
• Executive reorganization
• Government information
• Government publicity
• Governmental investigations
• Independent regulatory commissions
• Law
• Railroad engineering
• Railroad freight operations
• Railroad rates
• Surface Transportation Board

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In the News

September 27, 2007 Railroad reregulation may not be the answer to fixing the system ...

D.) in the form of a companion piece of legislation, entitled S. 953, which was designed to ensure competition in the rail industry, enable rail customers ...

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Source: Logistics Management, MA

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Blog Coverage

December 05, 2007 Democracy works, you just have to try.

S. 953, the "Railroad Competition and Service Improvement Act" was introduced on March 21, 2007, and referred to the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. This legislation would require rail carriers to quote a rate ...

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Source: Railroad Geek

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December 01, 2007 Global Health

Unfortunately, bills are going through Congress right now (S. 953 and HR 2125) that would reregulate the railroads and put the brakes on rail expansion! I know there is skepticism about greenhouse gas emissions. ...

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Source: Health Matters - From Massage for Adults

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December 01, 2007 From the Inbox - Reduce emissions to combat global warming

Unfortunately, S. 953 and HR 2125 is a bill going through Congress that would reregulate the railroads and put the brakes on the freight industry. Tell Congress to oppose S. 953 and HR 2125. Thank you for helping protect the freight ...

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Source: Life in Small Bites Environment Blog

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