Changeflow GovPing Transportation Surface Transportation Board: Railroad Cost of ...
Priority review Notice Added Final

Surface Transportation Board: Railroad Cost of Capital 2025

Favicon for www.regulations.gov Regs.gov: Surface Transportation Board
Published March 16th, 2026
Detected March 21st, 2026
Email

Summary

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has initiated a proceeding to determine the railroad industry's cost of capital for 2025. The notice solicits comments on key financial components including cost of debt, preferred equity, common equity, and the capital structure mix.

What changed

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has officially opened a proceeding to establish the railroad industry's cost of capital for the year 2025. This notice specifically requests comments on the current cost of debt, preferred equity (if applicable), common equity, and the market-value based capital structure mix for the railroad industry in 2025. This determination is crucial for rate-making and financial oversight within the sector.

Regulated entities, particularly railroads, must prepare and submit statements regarding these financial components by the specified deadlines. Other interested parties also have an opportunity to provide input. Railroads will have a final opportunity to submit rebuttal statements. Compliance with these procedural requirements is essential for influencing the final determination of the cost of capital, which directly impacts future rate adjustments and financial planning.

What to do next

  1. Submit notice of intent to participate by May 1, 2026
  2. Railroads to submit statements by May 22, 2026
  3. Other interested persons to submit statements by June 12, 2026
  4. Railroads to submit rebuttal statements by July 2, 2026

Source document (simplified)

Content

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Board is instituting a proceeding to determine the railroad industry's cost of capital for 2025. The decision solicits
comments on the following issues: the railroads' 2025 current cost of debt capital, the railroads' 2025 current cost of preferred
equity capital (if any), the railroads' 2025 cost of common equity capital, and the 2025 capital structure mix of the railroad
industry on a market value basis.

DATES:

Notices of intent to participate are due by May 1, 2026. Statements of the railroads are due by May 22, 2026. Statements of
other interested persons are due by June 12, 2026. Rebuttal statements by the railroads are due by July 2, 2026.

ADDRESSES:

Comments may be filed with the Board via e-filing on the Board's website.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Pedro Ramirez at (202) 915-0862. If you require an accommodation under the

     Americans with Disabilities Act, please call (202) 245-0245.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The decision in this proceeding is posted at www.stb.gov.

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 10704(a).

Decided: March 16, 2026. By the Board, Board Members Fuchs, Hedlund, and Schultz.

Eden Besera, Clearance Clerk. [FR Doc. 2026-05455 Filed 3-19-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915-01-P

Download File

Download

Classification

Agency
STB
Published
March 16th, 2026
Comment period closes
June 12th, 2026 (80 days)
Compliance deadline
July 2nd, 2026 (100 days)
Instrument
Notice
Legal weight
Non-binding
Stage
Final
Change scope
Substantive
Document ID
FR Doc. 2026-05455
Docket
STB-2026-0662-0001

Who this affects

Applies to
Transportation companies
Industry sector
4811 Air Transportation 4831 Maritime & Shipping 4841 Trucking & Logistics
Activity scope
Rate Regulation Financial Reporting
Geographic scope
United States US

Taxonomy

Primary area
Transportation
Operational domain
Financial Operations
Topics
Financial Reporting Rate Regulation

Get Transportation alerts

Weekly digest. AI-summarized, no noise.

Free. Unsubscribe anytime.

Get alerts for this source

We'll email you when Regs.gov: Surface Transportation Board publishes new changes.

Free. Unsubscribe anytime.