Regulators turn down Metra, BNSF requests to participate in conference on CPKC reporting of metrics
WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has denied requests by Metra and BNSF Railway to participate in an upcoming technical conference to determine details of metrics reported by Canadian Pacific Kansas City to the board, as required as part of the board decision approving the CP-KCS merger.
In a decision reached Sunday, April 30, and announced on Monday, the board clarified that the conference — scheduled for Monday, May 8 — was intended only for its staff and CPKC representatives.
In an April 4 filing, Metra had asked to be included in the conference to “provide input on reporting procedures … [and] assure that the Board and Metra are able to meaningfully review the data.” BNSF had supported that request and asked about participation in its own filing April 19, but CPKC objected to third-party participation in an April 24 filing, noting it has not been the case in the past.
In its decision, the board says a redacted transcript of the technical conference will be available, and that details of CPKC’s reporting requirements resulting from that conference will be available for review, giving other parties the opportunity to “communicate their views on how the data reporting formats and procedures might be reviewed.”
Extensive reporting of performance metrics are required of CPKC as part of the board’s seven-year oversight of the merger [see “Metra, Chicago suburbs see few concerns addressed …,” Trains News Wire, March 15, 2023].