Rail service is at an all-time low, shippers tell House committee

Precision-scheduled railroading (PSR) is driving discord between railroads and their customers, a roundtable of rail shippers told the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Thursday. Reduced headcount, service changes without notice, fewer yards in operation, insufficient locomotives, increased demurrage and accessorial charges all on top of higher rates, drove several shippers to remark that though railroad profitability is climbing, service is at an all-time low. "They may claim that PSR improves service but our experience and that of many other shippers has been the opposite," said Emily Regis, fuels resource administrator for the Arizona Electric Power Cooperative, speaking on behalf of the Freight Rail Customer Alliance.