(The Associated Press circulated the following article on June 25.)
MORAN, Wyo. — A BNSF Railway official asked the Wyoming mining industry to pressure Congress not to further regulate the rail industry, saying anything that might impede railroad profits would reduce the carriers’ ability to expand their lines in Wyoming.
Speaking Thursday at the Wyoming Mining Association’s annual convention, Steve Bobb, vice president of BNSF’s coal business unit, said the industry is working to expand lines into coal country, even though returns from hauling coal aren’t great. “If they cap our ability to raise our revenue, then we will pull capital out of this business, very quickly,” Bobb said.
Earlier this week, members of a U.S. Senate subcommittee criticized the chairman of the Surface Transportation Board, saying more needed to be done to strengthen railroad competition and lower fuel surcharges. Shippers in some states have complained that a lack of competition leaves them “captive” to higher prices and shortages, and argue that they are forced to pay inflated fuel surcharges.
Bobb said the industry is working hard to expand capacity so it can better handle producers’ shipping needs.