On August 24, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) jointly authored a letter to each of the seven Class I railroads regarding recent effects of COVID-19 on the rail industry and service reliability.
The letter highlights the importance of crew availability, safety, equipment resources, and communication between rail carriers and shippers to restore jobs and promote economic recovery — especially in the face of a projected record grain harvest.
The letter cites recent concerns over missed switches and late trains, as a result of crew availability issues. The agencies urge the railroads to resolve service issues more quickly to prevent them from becoming widespread.
The STB and FRA joint letter can be viewed here.
Information provided by the USDA Grain Transportation Report.
