Rail News – STB arm releases draft environmental analysis of Meridian & Bigbee proposals. For Railroad Career Professionals

The Surface Transportation Board’s Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA) has issued a draft environmental assessment regarding CSX’s and Canadian Pacific Kansas City’s applications to acquire the Genesee & Wyoming Inc.-owned Meridian & Bigbee Railroad (MNBR).

Per a deal announced in June 2023, CSX and CPKC plan to acquire parts of the short line to create a new corridor that would link the U.S. Southeast with Texas and Mexico. MNBR’s lines run between Meridian, Mississippi, and Montgomery, Alabama.

CPKC would acquire a 50.4-mile segment between Meridian and Myrtlewood, Alabama, with MNBR continuing to serve the route after the acquisition. CSX would resume operations on 107 miles of track between Myrtlewood and Burkville, Alabama, that has been leased to MNBR for the past 20 years. As part of the new arrangement, MNBR would no longer serve that route.

The OEA invites the public to review and submit comments on all aspects of the draft environmental assessment. Comments are due by April 17.