[Federal Register: August 6, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 151)]
[Notices]               
[Page 43013]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06au99-125]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board
[STB Finance Docket No. 29653 (Sub-No. 7)]

 
Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana--Pooling of Car Service 
Regarding Multilevel Cars

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.

ACTION: Notice of filing of application.

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SUMMARY: Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana (TFM) has filed an 
application seeking approval for its participation in an existing 
railroad agreement for the pooling of services related to multilevel 
cars used to transport motor vehicles and boxcars used to transport 
automobile parts. TFM is a common carrier engaged in the transportation 
of property by railroad in Mexico. Its participation in the pooling 
agreement will be limited to international traffic moving between 
points in Mexico, the United States, and Canada.

DATES: Any comments on the application must be filed by September 7, 
1999.

ADDRESSES: Send an original plus 10 copies of any comments, referring 
to STB Finance Docket No. 29653 (Sub-No. 7), to the Surface 
Transportation Board, Office of the Secretary, Case Control Unit, 1925 
K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20423-0001. In addition, send one copy of 
any comments to: (1) The U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust 
Division, 10th Street & Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20530; 
and (2) Jamie J. Rainey, 100 West Big Beaver, Suite 200, Troy, MI 
48084.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beryl Gordon, (202) 565-1600. [TDD for 
the hearing impaired: (202) 565-1695.]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under 49 U.S.C. 11322, the Board may approve 
pooling agreements that are voluntarily entered into by carriers, 
provided that the pooling or division of traffic, services, or earnings 
will be in the interest of better service to the public or of economy 
of operation and will not unreasonably restrain competition. The 
pooling agreement that TFM seeks to join was originally approved by the 
Board's predecessor, the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC), in The 
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, et al.--Pooling of Car Service 
Regarding Multi-Level Cars, Finance Docket No. 29653 (ICC served Aug. 
29, 1981). That agreement applied only to multilevel cars. 
Subsequently, the ICC approved amendments to the agreement authorizing 
the pooling of railroad services in auto-parts boxcars in The Baltimore 
and Ohio Railroad Company, et al.--Pooling of Car Service Regarding 
Multi-Level Cars, Finance Docket No. 29653 (Sub-No. 3) (ICC served Apr. 
18, 1986). Other modifications included adding additional carriers to 
the pool, such as Canadian Pacific Limited in The Baltimore and Ohio 
Railroad Company, et al.--Pooling of Car Service Regarding Multi-Level 
Cars, Finance Docket No. 29653 (Sub-No. 1) (ICC served Apr. 12, 1983), 
and Canadian National Railway Company in The Baltimore and Ohio 
Railroad Company, et al.--Pooling of Car Service Regarding Multi-Level 
Cars, Finance Docket No. 29653 (Sub-No. 2) (ICC served May 12, 1983). 
The agreement was last amended in The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad 
Company, et al.--Pooling of Car Service Regarding Multilevel Cars, 
Finance Docket No. 29653 (Sub-No. 6) (ICC served June 30, 1995). It was 
revised to enable railroads and shippers to obtain and use information 
that they otherwise would not have, thereby allowing pool members to 
increase the efficiency of distribution of the multilevel car fleet and 
minimize unnecessary investment.<SUP>1</SUP>
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    \1\ The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) initially objected to 
the amendment as it was originally proposed, but withdrew its 
objection after the railroads revised the amendment to meet DOJ's 
concerns.

    By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of 
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Proceedings.

    Decided: July 29, 1999.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-20053 Filed 8-5-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P