Cargo Business Newswire

Thursday, June 26, 2014

BNSF, CP must provide timeline for shipping grain backlog

U.S. officials have given BNSF Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway a Friday deadline to their submit their plans to clear a backlog of grain cars after months of service delays blamed on severe winter weather and high demand.

Grain storage bins in states like Montana, Minnesota and North and South Dakota are still brimming with last year's harvest because of poor rail service.

The U.S. Surface Transportation Board decision also ordered that the two class I railroads provide a timeline for resolving the backlog and submit formal weekly status reports on grain car orders and deliveries.

The STB said although there has been some improvement in service, the railroads need to step it up.

"The board remains very concerned about the limited time period until the next harvest, the large quantities of grain yet to be moved, and the railroads' paths toward meeting their respective commitments," said the rail-dispute mediator.

BNSF spokeswoman Amy Casas said the company, which has been voluntarily reporting some grain car service statistics on its website every week since February, will provide the requested information.

CP spokesman Ed Greenberg said Canadian Pacific is still reviewing the order and will respond directly to the agency later this week.

For more of the Reuters story: www.chicagotribune.com