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Jul 17, 2006 1:43 PM

The Surface Transportation Board is seeking railroad plans for handling the autumn peak shipping season and noting that rail infrastructure is impacting capacity, according to STB information.

"There is heightened focus this year on the ability of the railroads to meet demands for rail service," said W Douglas Buttrey, STB chairman in a letter to seven of the nation's largest railroads. "At least four major factors have converged to cause this heightened focus: the healthy domestic economy; growth in import/export traffic; the agriculture sector's forecast of record harvests; and the fact that rail infrastructure has begun to show capacity constraints. Consequently, I believe it is essential that the Surface Transportation Board continue its close monitoring of the railroads' service plans. This will contribute to the board's confidence level that appropriate planning is being done to ensure that spikes in rail traffic demand that are expected for the remainder of the year can be handled as efficiently as possible. As in past years, this will also provide an important tool for rail customers to keep them better informed and enable them to plan efficiently for the needs of their rail-served businesses."