U.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota) today announced the release of a new rail service section on his official website where South Dakota shippers concerned with inconsistent rail service can find the latest South Dakota rail developments. On the site, South Dakota shippers and consumers will find the most up-to-date actions taken by Thune, access grain car reports, find contact information for the Surface Transportation Board (STB), and can leave a message for the senator about the problems they’ve experienced.
“We are reaching a critical juncture in South Dakota as wheat harvests begin,” said Thune. “I will continue pressuring Canadian Pacific Railway, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, and Rapid City, Pierre, and Eastern Railroad to deliver the needed rail service to our state. I urge all South Dakota shippers to continue their discussions with the STB and to keep me informed of concerns by contacting me through my website. Since this winter, I have been committed to working with our producers and shippers to ensure our state’s rail service problems are addressed, and urge shippers to visit my website for regular rail service updates.”
Rail service in South Dakota continues to be challenging for all shippers. South Dakota’s agriculture producers have been hit particularly hard by the ongoing rail service backlogs resulting in lower grain prices and diminishing grain elevator storage capacity due to unmoved stockpiles of last year’s crops.
A link to the new rail service site can be found on Thune’s homepage, www.thune.senate.gov or can be found at: https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=rail.