As all members on the MRL are no doubt aware, we reached an Implementing agreement with BNSF which preserves the existing MRL CBA after its acquisition of MRL is complete.That process has yet to be completed but all signs indicate the transition of MRL back to BNSF ownership will occur by mid-2023.On November 18, 2022, MRL filed a petition with the STB for an exception to the normal review process under the premise the transaction will have no negative impact on employees or customers.
In recent developments, the STB has committed to ruling on the transaction by March 8, 2023. Should they conform to this self-imposed timeline, it is likely that the transaction will be concluded sometime in the first half of 2023, at which time MRL will cease to operate as a common rail carrier.