Федеральный суд обязал Surface Transportation Board определить компенсацию Metra за использование путей Union Pacific

ST. LOUIS — The longstanding compensation dispute between Union Pacific and Metra over Metra’s use of UP lines is again in the spotlight after a federal court ruling in UP’s appeal of the Surface Transportation Board decision granting Metra trackage rights in the Chicago area. The Aug. 31 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit found that the STB had properly determined its action was in the public interest and that the extent of the trackage rights awarded was in accordance with the law — but that the board erred in not setting compensation terms for Metra’s use of those rights. As a result, the three-judge panel vacated the STB action and sent it back to the board for proceedings “consistent with this opinion.” The decision will take effect in 180 days to give the parties time to set compensation. That, and the trackage-rights ruling, should ensure continued Metra operation. Even before the court ruling, the STB had already begun addressing the compensation issue. Earlier in August, acknowledging that the two sides had been unable to reach an agreement, it announced a procedural schedule to set terms and compensation for Metra operation on UP [see “STB sets schedule …,” Trains.com, Aug. 19, 2026]. That schedule calls for all evidence and arguments to be in the hands of the board by Dec. 17. Metra requested the trackage rights in March 2025, saying its service was jeopardized by the two sides’ inability to agree to terms for Metra operation on the UP West, Northwest, and North lines. The board granted that request that September, saying there was a “compelling need” to grant the rights because “Metra provides a critically important public service.” [See “STB grants Metra request …,” Trains.com, Sept. 3, 2025]. The board said it expected the two sides to attempt to reach an agreement on compensation, but it would act if they were unable to do so. It was on the latter point where the decision written by Judge Raymond Gruender found for Union Pacific. Saying the board’s action violated a requirement that “compensation shall be paid or adequately secured” before terminal trackage rights are exercised, Gruender wrote that the board “cannot get by merely by pledging to set compensation in the future.” In a concurrence, Judge Jane Kelly wrote that had the STB ordered Metra to continue paying according to the prior agreement between the two parties, the board would have satisfied that requirement. Union Pacific said in a statement that it “is pleased with the court’s decision that Union Pacific was entitled to appropriate compensation for the use of our property prior to the Surface Transportation Board’s decision allowing Metra to use our tracks. We plan to continue to aggressively defend our interests going forward.” Metra said that the decision impacts its operations on the UP lines “to the extent that it affirms Metra’s terminal trackage rights.” — To report news or errors, contact [email protected].