America's Freight Rails Face Complaints

America's freight rail industry has experienced significant cost-cutting measures that have resulted in increased payouts to investors, making rail stocks a lucrative investment. However, both shippers and labor unions have raised concerns that these cost-cutting initiatives have come at the expense of service quality and safety.

In response to these concerns, federal regulators have proposed a new rule that would require railroads to open their tracks to competitors if they fail to provide reliable service to their customers. This concept, known as "reciprocal switching," aims to introduce competition among rail monopolies.

While the potential impact of the Surface Transportation Board's reciprocal switching proposal is not immediate, it marks an important step towards addressing the issue. The board is currently accepting public comments on the rule until late November, and if adopted, the implementation process will require additional time.

Upon the announcement of this proposal, rail shares experienced a minor decline, slightly higher than the broader market. While the S&P 500 index dropped by 0.3% on Thursday, major railroads such as Union Pacific (UNP), CSX (CSX), Norfolk Southern (NSC), Canadian National Railway (CNI), and Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway (CP) saw a decrease of around 1% to 1.5%. It's worth noting that Berkshire Hathaway (BRK. B), owned by Warren Buffett, controls the BNSF rail system.

The prevalent cost-cutting strategy adopted by most railways is known as "precision scheduled railroading." However, this approach has generated heated debate, prompting hearings held by the STB and Congress where shipping customers voiced their concerns over deteriorating service quality.

The proposed rule for reciprocal switching aims to address inadequate service by establishing criteria for measuring a railroad's timeliness, consistency, and local service. In cases where customer complaints arise, rival railroads may be allowed to bid for customers, but complex contracts would need to be negotiated beforehand.

The Association of American Railroads has stated that it will carefully study the STB proposal. In their official statement, the trade group emphasized the importance of avoiding disruptions to the fundamental economics and operations of an industry that plays a critical role in the national economy.