Notice2026-19105
The Great Walton Railroad Company, Inc.-Continuance in Control Exemption-The Athens Line, LLC
Primary source
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Published
September 18, 2026
Issuing agencies
Surface Transportation Board
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 180 (Friday, September 18, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 180 (Friday, September 18, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59293-59294]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-19105]
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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD
[Docket No. FD 36950]
The Great Walton Railroad Company, Inc.--Continuance in Control
Exemption--The Athens Line, LLC
The Great Walton Railroad Company, Inc. (GWRC), a Class III rail
carrier, has filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR
1180.2(d)(2) to obtain after-the-fact authority to continue in control
of The Athens Line, LLC (The Athens Line).\1\ GWRC controls two rail
carriers: The Athens Line and the Hartwell Railroad Company (Hartwell).
GWRC states that it obtained authority to control Hartwell,\2\ but
mistakenly did not obtain authority for its continuance in control of
The Athens Line.
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\1\ The Athens Line is a wholly owned subsidiary of GWRC. The
Athens Line became a rail carrier when it originally leased, and
eventually acquired, a line of railroad from Central of Georgia
Railroad Company. See Athens Line, LLC--Lease & Operation
Exemption--Norfolk S. Ry., FD 34118 (STB served Dec. 27, 2001);
Athens Line, LLC--Acquis. & Operation Exemption--Rail Line of
Norfolk S. Ry., FD 36122 (STB served June 16, 2017).
\2\ See Great Walton R.R.--Acquis. Exemption--Hartwell R.R., FD
36599 (STB served May 23, 2022).
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GWRC represents that its after-the-fact continuance in control of
The Athens Line: (1) is not a transaction where The Athens Line would
connect with any other GWRC railroads; (2) is not part of a series of
anticipated transactions that would result in any such connection; and
(3) does not involve a Class I carrier. Therefore, the transaction is
exempt from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 11323. See 49
CFR 1180.2(d)(2).
Under 49 U.S.C. 10502(g), the Board may not use its exemption
authority to relieve a rail carrier of its statutory obligation to
protect the interests of its employees. However, 49 U.S.C. 11326(c)
does not provide for labor protection for transactions under 49 U.S.C.
11324 and 11325 that involve only Class III rail carriers. Accordingly,
because this transaction involves Class III rail carriers only, the
Board may not impose labor protective conditions here.
The earliest this transaction may be consummated is October 4,
2026, the effective date of the exemption. If the verified notice
contains false or misleading information, the exemption is void ab
initio. Petitions to revoke the
[[Page 59294]]
exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d) may be filed at any time. The filing
of a petition to revoke will not automatically stay the effectiveness
of the exemption. Petitions for stay must be filed by September 25,
2026 (at least seven days before the exemption becomes effective).
All pleadings, referring to Docket No. FD 36950, must be filed with
the Surface Transportation Board either via e-filing on the Board's
website or in writing addressed to 395 E Street SW, Washington, DC
20423-0001. In addition, a copy of each pleading must be served on
GWRC's representative, Richard H. Streeter, Law Office of Richard H.
Streeter, 5255 Partridge Lane NW, Washington, DC 20016.
According to GWRC, this action is excluded from environmental
review under 49 CFR 1105.6(c) and from historic preservation reporting
requirements under 49 CFR 1105.8(b).
Board decisions and notices are available at <a href="http://www.stb.gov">www.stb.gov</a>.
Decided: September 15, 2026.
By the Board, Anika S. Cooper, Chief Counsel, Office of Chief
Counsel.
Zantori Dickerson,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2026-19105 Filed 9-17-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P
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