A bill sponsored by South Dakota Senator John Thune would expand the numbers of members on the Surface Transportation Board, and give them more authority over railroad operations. Thune says the bill is needed following the rail jams of the past couple of years.

He says railroads have made progress in improving their operations…

 

Thune says the rains that have fallen on the state are setting the stage for another big harvest, and the railroads need to be ready to move those crops…

 

Thune says rail traffic has also changed in the last few months…

 

Thune says his bill would allow the STB to start investigations into rail problems instead of waiting for a local problem to make its way to the board.