(The Associated Press circulated the following article on May 11.)
WASHINGTON — Governor Schweitzer today criticized a federal regulatory agency, for not doing enough to encourage more railroad competition in Montana.
Democrat Schweitzer told the Surface Transportation Board in Washington that Montana shippers are paying more than their fair share. He said the board has allowed one company — BNSF Railway — to monopolize rail shipping in the state.
Schweitzer says BNSF is charging fuel surcharges that are greater than the actual fuel costs on rail movements from Montana.
Tom Hund is executive vice president and chief financial officer of BNSF. He told the board today that the company hasn’t fully recovered fuel costs — quote — “above the threshold price at which the surcharge takes effect.”
Schweitzer says BNSF controls more than 90 percent of the rail traffic in Montana. He says more than 19-hundred miles of Montana rail line have been abandoned over the past 30 years, because there is no railroad competition.