(The Associated Press circulated the following story on March 17.)
MINOT, N.D. — Legislators are listening to complaints about a rail car shortage in North Dakota.
The manager of Minot’s Sun Prairie Grain elevator — Brad Haugeberg — says producers are frustrated. He says the lack of rail cars is costly.
Public Service Commissioner Tony Clark says North Dakota is more dependent on rail cars than other areas, because of the type of crops it raises. He says the railroads know that regardless of how long the grain sits, eventually they’ll get the business.
Clark says the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad has agreed to dedicate an in-state “ombudsman” to deal with problems as they come up, and it’s promised to catch up with late car orders by the end of the month.
The Legislature’s Interim Transportation Committee held a hearing in Minot this week.