WASHINGTON — A broad range of representatives of railroads, unions, shippers, environmental organizations, and opponents are scheduled to testify during the Surface Transportation Board’s three-day hearing on the proposed Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger, set for next Wednesday through Friday, Sept. 28-30.
The STB released the full list of scheduled speakers today (Sept. 22) along with other details on the hearing, including attendance procedures. The hearing will also be carried on the board’s YouTube page. It is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. EDT on Sept. 28, 9 a.m. on Sept. 29, and 9:20 a.m. on Sept. 30, and end at 6 p.m. each day.
The group representing CP and KCS, including CEOs Keith Creel and Pat Ottensmeyer, will have two opportunities to testify — 90 minutes early on the first day, and 90 minutes to close the third day. All other Class I railroads also have groups of officials scheduled to testify for either 60 or 90 minutes.
The only other groups allotted 30 minutes or more to testify are the Coalition to Stop CPKC, a group of eight Chicago-area suburbs along with DuPage County, Ill., which will receive 30 minutes on Sept. 28, and Chicago commuter operator Metra, which will receive 45 minutes. Metra also opposes the merger, citing potential impact on its operations.
