FOR RELEASE	Contact: Dennis Watson
05/14/2004 (Friday)	(202) 565-1596
No. 04-17	FIRS 1 (800) 877-8339
	www.stb.gov

Surface Transportation Board Announces Success of Technical Conference in Major Rail-Rate Case

Surface Transportation Board Chairman Roger Nober today announced that the AEP Texas North Company (AEP) and The Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway Company (BNSF) have successfully resolved at the conference table 95 percent of the variable-cost issues outstanding between them in the major railroad rate-complaint case in which they are involved.

In announcing the conference's success, Chairman Nober said,

"Once again, the Board's policy of having litigants in rate cases talk to one another about issues in their case has led to the resolution of a number of issues and matters. The parties have saved themselves and the Board both time and expense and have considerably advanced their proceeding."

The STB announced the outcome of the technical conference in the case entitled AEP Texas North Company v. The Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway Company, STB Docket No. 41191 (Sub-No. 1).

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