Grainbelt Corp Seeks Trackage Rights Extension on BNSF Line in Oklahoma and Texas
Summary
The Surface Transportation Board granted Grainbelt Corporation (GNBC), a Class III rail carrier, an exemption to extend existing local trackage rights on BNSF Railway Company's line between Long, Oklahoma and Quanah, Texas. The exemption extends the PCCA Trackage Rights until March 30, 2027. The exemption may be consummated on or after April 30, 2026, unless a petition for stay is filed by April 23, 2026. Affected employees are protected under conditions from prior ICC decisions.
What changed
The STB granted GNBC's verified notice of exemption to extend trackage rights on BNSF's line between milepost 668.73 in Long, Oklahoma and milepost 723.30 in Quanah, Texas. The exemption allows GNBC to continue accessing the Plains Cotton Cooperative Association facility at Altus, Oklahoma and operate additional trains for BNSF customers' railcars. The extension runs until March 30, 2027.
Affected parties should note that the exemption becomes effective April 30, 2026. Parties wishing to stay the effectiveness must file petitions no later than April 23, 2026. All pleadings must reference Docket No. FD 36486 (Sub-No. 10) and be filed via e-filing or in writing at the STB's Washington, DC office. The exemption is categorically excluded from environmental review and historic preservation reporting requirements.
Archived snapshot
Apr 17, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Content
Grainbelt Corporation (GNBC), a Class III rail carrier, has filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1180.2(d)(7)
to extend the term of the previously amended, local trackage rights on trackage owned by BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) between
approximately milepost 668.73 in Long, Okla., and approximately milepost 723.30 in Quanah, Tex. (the Line). The trackage rights
allow GNBC to (1) use the Line to access the Plains Cotton Cooperative Association (PCCA) facility near BNSF Chickasha Subdivision
milepost 688.6 at Altus, Okla., and (2) operate additional trains on the Line to accommodate the movement of trains transporting
BNSF customers' railcars (loaded or empty) located along the Line, to unit train facilities on the Line (collectively, the
PCCA Trackage Rights). (1) GNBC and BNSF have entered into an amendment to extend the PCCA Trackage Rights until March 30, 2027. (2)
The transaction may be consummated on or after April 30, 2026, the effective date of the exemption (30 days after the verified
notice was filed).
As a condition to this exemption, any employees affected by the acquisition of the trackage rights will be protected by the
conditions imposed in Norfolk & Western Railway—Trackage Rights—Burlington Northern, Inc., 354 I.C.C. 605 (1978), as modified in Mendocino Coast Railway—Lease & Operate—California Western Railroad, 360 I.C.C. 653 (1980).
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 no later than April 23, 2026 (at least seven days before
the exemption becomes effective).
All pleadings, referring to Docket No. FD 36486 (Sub-No. 10), 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 GNBC's representative, Eric M. Hocky, Clark Hill PLC, Two Commerce Square, 2001 Market
Street, Suite 2620, Philadelphia, PA 19103.
According to GNBC, 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.
By the Board, Anika S. Cooper, Chief Counsel, Office of Chief Counsel.
Decided: April 13, 2026. Stefan Rice, Clearance Clerk. [FR Doc. 2026-07342 Filed 4-15-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915-01-P
Footnotes
(1) GNBC states that it originally acquired overhead trackage rights from BNSF's predecessor between Snyder Yard at milepost
664.00 and Quanah at milepost 723.30, allowing GNBC to interchange at Quanah with BNSF and Union Pacific Railroad Company.
According to GNBC, these original trackage rights were amended over the years to allow various local services to be provided.
In 2021, BNSF and GNBC amended the trackage rights to include the PCCA Trackage Rights, see Grainbelt Corp.—Trackage Rts. Exemption—BNSF Ry., FD 36486 (STB served Mar. 12, 2021), and those trackage rights were extended in 2022, see Grainbelt Corp.—Trackage Rts. Exemption—BNSF Ry., FD 36486 (Sub-No. 2) (STB served Mar. 8, 2022), in 2023, see Grainbelt Corp—Trackage Rts. Exemption—BNSF Ry., FD 36486 (Sub-No. 4) (STB served Mar. 9, 2023), in 2024, see Grainbelt Corp.—Trackage Rts. Exemption—BNSF Ry., FD 36486 (Sub-No. 6) (STB served Mar. 15, 2024), and again in 2025, see Grainbelt Corp.—Trackage Rts. Exemption—BNSF Ry., FD 36486 (Sub-No. 8) (STB served Apr. 17, 2025).
(2) GNBC states that its verified notice is related to a petition for partial revocation, in which GNBC seeks authority to allow
the trackage rights at issue here to expire automatically on March 30, 2027, the termination date set forth in the amended
trackage rights agreement. GNBC's petition for partial revocation will be addressed in a separate decision in Docket No. FD
36486 (Sub-No. 11).
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