[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 21 (Wednesday, January 31, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3522-3523]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-1915]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Surface Transportation Board
[No. MC-F-20783]
Capitol Bus Company; Pooling; Greyhound Lines, Inc.
AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.1
\1\ The ICC Termination Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-88, 109 Stat.
803 (the Act), which was enacted on December 29, 1995, and took
effect on January 1, 1996, abolished the Interstate Commerce
Commission (ICC) and transferred certain functions and proceedings
to the Surface Transportation Board (Board). Section 204(b)(1) of
the Act provides, in general, that proceedings pending before the
ICC on the effective date of that legislation shall be decided under
the law in effect prior to January 1, 1996, insofar as they involve
functions retained by the Act. This notice relates to a proceeding
that was pending with the ICC prior to January 1, 1996, and to
functions that are subject to Board jurisdiction pursuant to 49
U.S.C. 14302. Therefore, this notice applies the law in effect prior
to the Act, and citations are to the former section of the statute,
49 U.S.C. 11342(a).
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ACTION: Notice of proposed revenue pooling application.
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SUMMARY: By application filed November 29, 1995, Capitol Bus Company
(Capitol), of Harrisburg, PA, and Greyhound Lines, Inc. (Greyhound), of
Dallas, TX, jointly request approval of a revenue pooling arrangement
under former 49 U.S.C. 11342(a) with respect to their motor passenger
transportation services between Syracuse, NY, and Harrisburg, PA, and
between Harrisburg and Washington, DC. Applicants already pool
transportation services on these routes, and under the proposal they
also seek to pool the earnings from these routes. Their stated
objective is to reduce excess bus capacity on the pooled routes and
cement the business relationship between them.
DATES: Comments on the proposed agreement may be filed with the Board
in the form of verified statements on or before March 1, 1996.
Applicants' rebuttal statements are due on or before March 21, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Send verified statements to: (1) Surface Transportation
Board, Office of the Secretary, Case Control Branch, Room 1324, 1201
Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20423 and (2) Applicants'
representatives: Dennis N. Barnes, Morgan, Lewis and Bockius, 1800 M
Street, N.W. (#600N), Washington, DC 20036-7060; and Fritz R. Kahn,
Suite 750 West, 1100 New York Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20005-3934.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Llewellyn Brown, (202) 927-5303
or Beryl Gordon, (202) 927-5610. [TDD for the hearing impaired: (202)
927-5721.]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Interstate Commerce Commission
previously approved an agreement allowing Capitol and Greyhound to pool
their services between Syracuse and Harrisburg and between Harrisburg
and Washington, DC. See Capitol Bus Company--Pooling--Greyhound Lines,
No. MC-F-19154 (Sub-No. 1) (ICC served Nov. 28, 1988). Under the
proposed pooling arrangement, Capitol and Greyhound now seek to pool
their revenues over these routes, as well.
Applicants state that, while their service pooling agreement has
[[Page 3523]]
succeeded in permitting them to reduce redundant services, increase the
load factor, and increase revenues, the load factor remains
unacceptably low, causing an intolerable drain on their resources.
Assertedly, they feel compelled to operate the number of schedules they
operate to protect their respective market shares, notwithstanding that
the market is being overserved.
Applicants state that revenue pooling will allow them to achieve
greater economies of operation, permitting each to manage better its
pricing structures and capital improvements. Each carrier would share
financially in the vicissitudes of the pooled-route operations of the
other, creating an otherwise unattainable degree of financial
stability. They assert that the agreement is in the public interest.
With the additional measure of financial stability, they maintain that
they will be able to improve service to the traveling public.
They argue that there are overwhelming intermodal competitive
pressures that are available to protect the public. Ample rail
passenger service is available on Amtrak between these points via New
York City, NY, or Philadelphia, PA. The major points served by these
routes also receive frequent daily air service from United Air Lines
and USAir. Several interstate highways connect these points, as well.
Copies of the pooling application may be obtained free of charge by
contacting petitioners' representatives. In the alternative, the
pooling application may be inspected at the offices of the Surface
Transportation Board, Room 1221, during normal business hours. A copy
of this notice will be served on the Department of Justice, Antitrust
Division. [Assistance for the hearing impaired is available through TDD
service on (202) 927-5721.]
Decided: January 11, 1996.
By the Board, Chairman Morgan, Vice Chairman Simmons, and Board
Member Owen.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-1915 Filed 1-30-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-00-P
