Exemption for Operator Change: Connecticut Southern Railroad

Regs.gov: Surface Transportation Board

Published April 21st, 2026

Detected March 28th, 2026

Summary

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has issued a notice of exemption allowing Connecticut Southern Railroad (CSO) to lease and operate approximately 8.64 miles of rail line from the State of Connecticut. CSO will replace Central New England Railroad as the operator, with the transaction projected to generate annual revenues not exceeding $5 million and not creating a Class II or I carrier. The exemption becomes effective April 21, 2026.

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What changed

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has processed a verified notice of exemption filed by Connecticut Southern Railroad, Inc. (CSO) to lease and operate the Griffins Industrial Track, a rail line owned by the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation. CSO will replace Central New England Railroad, Inc. (CNZR) as the operator of this approximately 8.64-mile line. CSO certifies that this transaction will not result in the creation of a Class II or Class I rail carrier and that projected annual revenues will not exceed $5 million. The exemption is set to become effective on April 21, 2026.

Compliance officers should note that the transaction may be consummated on or after April 21, 2026. Petitions to revoke the exemption can be filed at any time, but petitions for a stay must be filed by April 14, 2026. All pleadings should reference Docket No. FD 36906. The STB has determined that this action is categorically excluded from environmental review and historic preservation reporting requirements.

Penalties

If the verified notice contains false or misleading information, the exemption is void ab initio.

Source document (simplified)

Content

Connecticut Southern Railroad, Inc. (CSO), a Class III carrier, has filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.41
to lease from the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation (CT DOT) and operate approximately 8.64 miles of rail
line extending between milepost 0.0 at Hartford, Conn. and milepost 8.64 at Griffins, Conn., known as the Griffins Industrial
Track (the Line). Central New England Railroad, Inc. (CNZR), currently operates the Line. See Cent. New England R.R.—Operation Exemption—Line Owned by State of Conn. Dep't of Transp., FD 33680 (STB served Jan. 28, 1999). (1)

CSO states that the agreement between CNZR and CT DOT is ending and that CSO will become the new operator of the Line. According
to CSO, CNZR has authorized CSO to represent that CNZR does not object to the verified notice, which will result in CSO obtaining
authority to operate the Line as a common carrier and releasing CNZR from its common carrier obligation to operate the Line.

CSO certifies that its lease with CT DOT does not impose or include an interchange commitment. CSO also certifies that its
projected annual revenues as a result of this transaction will not result in the creation of a Class II or Class I rail carrier
and will exceed $5 million. Under 49 CFR 1150.42(b), a change in operators exemption requires that notice be given to shippers.
CSO states there are no shippers on the Line.

The transaction may be consummated on or after April 21, 2026, the effective date of the exemption (60 days after CSO certified
its compliance with the labor notice requirements of 49 CFR 1150.42(e)).

If the verified notice contains false or misleading information, the exemption is void ab initio. Petitions to revoke the
exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d) may be filed at any time. The filing of a petition to revoke will not automatically stay
the effectiveness of the exemption. Petitions for stay must be filed by April 14, 2026 (at least seven days before the exemption
becomes effective).

All pleadings, referring to Docket No. FD 36906, must be filed with the Surface Transportation Board either via e-filing on
the Board's website or in writing addressed to 395 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20423-0001. In addition, a copy of each pleading
must be served on CSO's representative, Justin J. Marks, Clark Hill PLC, 1001 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 1300 South, Washington,
DC 20004.

According to CSO, this action is categorically excluded from environmental review under 49 CFR 1105.6(c) and from historic
preservation reporting requirements under 49 CFR 1105.8(b).

Board decisions and notices are available at www.stb.gov.

Decided: March 24, 2026. By the Board, Anika S. Cooper, Chief Counsel, Office of Chief Counsel.

Jeffrey Herzig, Clearance Clerk. [FR Doc. 2026-05999 Filed 3-26-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915-01-P

Footnotes

(1) CSO submitted a letter on March 18, 2026, noting that the notice of exemption in Docket No. FD 33680 describes the Line as
extending to milepost 8.7 at Griffins. CSO states that its understanding is that the reference to milepost 8.7 in that case
“is a historical error because anything beyond milepost 8.64 was apparently abandoned in 1938 and there is no evidence to
suggest that any rail operations have taken place beyond milepost 8.64 in the last twenty-seven years.” (CSO Letter 1, Mar.
18, 2026.)