Buckingham Branch Railroad Company - Discontinuance Exemption in Virginia Beach and Norfolk, Virginia
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
Buckingham Branch Railroad Company, a Class III rail carrier, has petitioned the Surface Transportation Board for an exemption from prior approval requirements to discontinue service over 4.2 miles of rail line between milepost SN 6.7 at Diamond Springs in Virginia Beach and milepost SN 2.5 at Coleman Place in Norfolk, Virginia. The line is owned by Norfolk Southern Railway Company and has been operated by Buckingham Branch under lease since 2018. Local traffic is limited to one shipper, Gordon Paper, while most traffic is overhead traffic from a connecting line segment. The discontinuance is driven by the U.S. Navy's desire to acquire a portion of the adjacent CAC Line and related yard property for national security purposes, making continued operations on this line economically and operationally unfeasible.
AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Refer to official sources for legal decisions.
Key Changes
- Exemption from 49 U.S.C. 10903 prior approval requirements for discontinuance of 4.2-mile rail line between milepost SN 6.7 and SN 2.5
- Employee protections under Oregon Short Line Railroad conditions (360 I.C.C. 91) for adversely affected workers
- OFA subsidy offers due no later than 120 days after petition filing or 10 days after exemption decision, whichever is sooner
+ 3 more changes with Pro
Obligations
What this law requires
File all pleadings referencing Docket No. AB 1349 (Sub-No. 1X) with the Surface Transportation Board via e-filing on the Board's website or in writing to 395 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20423-0001
Serve a copy of each pleading on Buckingham Branch's representative, Robert A. Wimbish, Fletcher & Sippel LLC, 29 N Wacker Drive, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606
File formal expression of intent to file an Offer of Financial Assistance (OFA) for subsidy by April 6, 2026, demonstrating preliminary financial responsibility
Submit any Offer of Financial Assistance (OFA) for subsidy no later than 120 days after filing the petition for exemption, or 10 days after service of a decision granting the petition, whichever occurs sooner
File replies to the petition on or before April 16, 2026