Freight Delays Causing Great Pain Across Plains

[jebr]

A nice piece about the rail issues (both freight and passenger) throughout the Midwest. Mainly an audio link, no full transcript yet.

Grain elevators, auto manufacturers and Amtrak passengers are still facing lengthy delays on rails, as freight train congestion continues to be a drag on the economy all across the country. The problem is particularly bad in the upper Midwest and Great Plains states, where some grain elevators have been waiting to ship their product to market since April. Many blame the delays on the huge increase in Bakken crude oil shipped by rail from North Dakota to refineries in the south, Midwest and on both coasts. The railroads deny they're favoring oil shipments over other products. On Wednesday, the Senate Commerce committee held a hearing on the matter while considering legislation to beef up the enforcement power of the Surface Transportation Board.

From NPR (with audio.)