STB Press Releases Covering Rail Line, Merger Updates
Summary
The Surface Transportation Board published a series of press releases covering multiple regulatory matters from November 2025 through April 2026. Key items include a Draft Environmental Assessment for a proposed rail line in Webb County, Texas; a unanimous decision proposing comprehensive permitting reform to streamline processes and lower infrastructure costs; and a Final Environmental Assessment for a six-mile rail line in Mesa, Arizona by Union Pacific. The Board also addressed the Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger application, finding it incomplete in January 2026, and proposed repealing regulations at 49 C.F.R. Part 1144 governing reciprocal switching, through routes, and through rates.
“The Surface Transportation Board (STB or Board) today issued a unanimous decision proposing a comprehensive rule to modernize and reform its permitting process.”
About this source
GovPing monitors US Surface Transportation Board for new transportation regulatory changes. Every update since tracking began is archived, classified, and available as free RSS or email alerts — 2 changes logged to date.
What changed
The STB listing page aggregates multiple press releases spanning November 2025 through April 2026. The most substantive items are a comprehensive permitting reform proposal announced March 25, 2026, and a proposal to repeal 49 C.F.R. Part 1144 on reciprocal switching announced January 7, 2026. Rail operators and shippers should monitor these proceedings as they may affect infrastructure permitting timelines and competitive access to rail networks.
Affected parties include railroads (Class I carriers such as Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern, shortline carriers like Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway), shippers relying on reciprocal switching arrangements, and entities seeking new rail line construction permits. The permitting reform proposal aims to streamline STB processes and reduce infrastructure costs, while the Part 1144 repeal proposal would eliminate regulatory barriers to competition.
Archived snapshot
Apr 22, 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.
Home » News & Communications » Latest News
Latest News
Below are press releases issued by the Surface Transportation Board since the beginning of 2019. Press releases issued prior to 2019 are available here.
STB Issues Draft Environmental Assessment for Proposed New Rail Line in Webb County, TX
04/10/2026 (Friday)
No. 26-07
Contact: | (202) 245-0245
The Surface Transportation Board’s Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA) today issued a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed construction and operation of a new rail line in Webb County, Texas. [Click for full press release.]
STB Proposes Comprehensive Permitting Reform to Streamline its Processes and Lower Infrastructure Costs
03/25/2026 (Wednesday)
No. 26-06
Contact: | (202) 245-0245
The Surface Transportation Board (STB or Board) today issued a unanimous decision proposing a comprehensive rule to modernize and reform its permitting process. [Click for full press release.]
STB Issues Final Environmental Assessment for Proposed New Rail Line in Mesa, Arizona
02/27/2026 (Friday)
No. 26-05
Contact: | (202) 245-0245
The Surface Transportation Board’s Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA) today issued a Final Environmental Assessment (Final EA) for the proposed construction of approximately six miles of new rail line in Mesa, Arizona by Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP). [Click for full press release.]
Chairman Fuchs Provides Updates on Outstanding Proceedings
02/06/2026 (Friday)
No. 26-04
Contact: | (202) 245-0245
Surface Transportation Board Chairman Patrick Fuchs provided an update today on recent actions to facilitate and expedite the resolution of several outstanding Board proceedings. [Click for full press release.]
Public Advisory Regarding Partial Lapse in Appropriations
02/02/2026 (Monday)
No. 26-03
Contact: | (202) 245-0245
Due to a lapse in appropriations causing the federal government to partially shut down its operations, Surface Transportation Board (STB) functions will be suspended. [Click for full press release.]
STB Finds UP-NS Merger Application is Incomplete
01/16/2026 (Friday)
No. 26-02
Contact: | (202) 245-0245
The STB today announced a unanimous decision finding that the major merger application filed by Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS) on December 19, 2025 is incomplete. [Click for full press release.]
STB Proposes to Eliminate Barriers to Competition by Repealing Regulations at 49 C.F.R. Part 1144
01/07/2026 (Wednesday)
No. 26-01
Contact: | (202) 245-0245
The Surface Transportation Board (STB or Board) today announced a unanimous decision proposing a significant pro-competitive action: repeal of 49 C.F.R. part 1144, which governs the prescription of reciprocal switching, through routes, and through rates. [Click for full press release.]
STB Receives Major Merger Application from Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern; Sets Deadline for Comments on Completeness
12/19/2025 (Friday)
No. 25-38
Contact: | (202) 245-0245
The Surface Transportation Board today announced that it has received a major merger application from Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern. [Click for full press release.]
Michelle A. Schultz Confirmed to Second Term
12/18/2025 (Thursday)
No. 25-37
Contact: | (202) 245-0245
On December 18, 2025, the U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination of Michelle A. Schultz to a second term as a member of the Surface Transportation Board. [Click for full press release.]
STB Approves Fortress Investment Group Acquisition of Two Shortline Rail Carriers
11/26/2025 (Wednesday)
No. 25-36
Contact: | (202) 245-0245
The Surface Transportation Board today announced it has granted authority for Fortress Investment Group LLC (Fortress) to acquire control of Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway Company (W&LE) and Akron Barberton Cluster Railway Company (ABC). [Click for full press release.]
CFR references
Parties
Related changes
Get daily alerts for US Surface Transportation Board
Daily digest delivered to your inbox.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime.
About this page
Every important government, regulator, and court update from around the world. One place. Real-time. Free. Our mission
Source document text, dates, docket IDs, and authority are extracted directly from STB.
The summary, classification, recommended actions, deadlines, and penalty information are AI-generated from the original text and may contain errors. Always verify against the source document.
Classification
Who this affects
Taxonomy
Browse Categories
Get alerts for this source
We'll email you when US Surface Transportation Board publishes new changes.
Subscribed!
Optional. Filters your digest to exactly the updates that matter to you.