US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

49 U.S.C. § 10705

Authority: through routes, joint classifications, rates, and divisions prescribed by Board

(a)
(1)
The Board may, and shall when it considers it desirable in the public interest, prescribe through routes, joint classifications, joint rates, the division of joint rates, and the conditions under which those routes must be operated, for a rail carrier providing transportation subject to the jurisdiction of the Board under this part.
(2)
The Board may require a rail carrier to include in a through route substantially less than the entire length of its railroad and any intermediate railroad operated with it under common management or control if that intermediate railroad lies between the terminals of the through route only when—
(A)
required under section 10741, 10742, or 11102 of this title;
(B)
inclusion of those lines would make the through route unreasonably long when compared with a practicable alternative through route that could be established; or
(C)
the Board decides that the proposed through route is needed to provide adequate, and more efficient or economic, transportation.
The Board shall give reasonable preference, subject to this subsection, to the rail carrier originating the traffic when prescribing through routes.
(b)
section 10703 of this titlesection 10701 of this title The Board shall prescribe the division of joint rates to be received by a rail carrier providing transportation subject to its jurisdiction under this part when it decides that a division of joint rates established by the participating carriers under , or under a decision of the Board under subsection (a) of this section, does or will violate .
(c)
section 10701 of this title If a division of a joint rate prescribed under a decision of the Board is later found to violate , the Board may decide what division would have been reasonable and order adjustment to be made retroactive to the date the complaint was filed, the date the order for an investigation was made, or a later date that the Board decides is justified. The Board may make a decision under this subsection effective as part of its original decision.

Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 102(a)109 Stat. 811(Added , , .)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Pub. L. 104–88, § 102(a)Prior sections 10705 and 10705a were omitted in the general amendment of this subtitle by .

Pub. L. 95–47392 Stat. 1375Pub. L. 96–296, § 22(b)94 Stat. 813Pub. L. 96–448, title II, § 21894 Stat. 1925Pub. L. 97–449, § 5(g)(4)96 Stat. 2443Section 10705, , , ; –(g), , ; , , ; , , , related to authority for through routes, joint classifications, rates, and divisions prescribed by Interstate Commerce Commission. See sections 10705 and 13701 of this title.

Pub. L. 96–448, title II, § 217(a)(1)94 Stat. 1916Pub. L. 103–272, § 4(j)(20)108 Stat. 1369Section 10705a, added , , ; amended , , , related to joint rate surcharges and cancellations.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Pub. L. 104–88section 2 of Pub. L. 104–88section 1301 of this titleSection effective , except as otherwise provided in , see , set out as a note under .