Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 221 / Friday, November 15, 2024 / Notices 90341 

4There also appears to be little, if any, 

competitive overlap between BBS and TCS. See 

note 2, supra. 

motor carrier primarily providing 

regular home-to-school student 

transportation services in New 

Hampshire (the area encompassing the 

cities of Manchester, North Havervill, 

Milford, and Center Barnstead) and in 

Vermont (the area encompassing the 

cities of Orleans, Lyndonville, and 

White River Junction). (Id. at 8.) BBS 

also provides limited intrastate and 

interstate charter services for wedding 

parties, camps, field trips, and other 

private events such as sporting events, 

office/corporate events, political rallies, 

social gatherings, and concerts. (Id.) In 

providing its services, BBS utilizes 

approximately 339 passenger vehicles 

(290 school buses with a seating 

capacity of 16 or more passengers, 13 

passenger mini-buses with a seating 

capacity of 16 or more passengers, 8 

vans with a seating capacity of 1 to 8 

passengers, and 28 vans with a seating 

capacity of 9 to 15 passengers). (Id.) 

Furthermore, the USDOT number 

assigned to BBS is 1633191, and for 

purposes of its interstate passenger 

operations, BBS holds interstate carrier 

operating authority under FMCSA MC– 

602610. (Id.) According to the 

application, BBS is owned by Sellers, 

who are noncarriers and do not directly 

or indirectly own or control any other 

interstate passenger motor carriers. (Id. 

at 7.) 

Under 49 U.S.C. 14303(b), the Board 

must approve and authorize a 

transaction that it finds consistent with 

the public interest, taking into 

consideration at least (1) the effect of the 

proposed transaction on the adequacy of 

transportation to the public, (2) the total 

fixed charges that result from the 

proposed transaction, and (3) the 

interest of affected carrier employees. 

Van Pool has submitted the information 

required by 49 CFR 1182.2, including 

information to demonstrate that the 

proposed transaction is consistent with 

the public interest under 49 U.S.C. 

14303(b), see 49 CFR 1182.2(a)(7), and 

a jurisdictional statement under 49 

U.S.C. 14303(g) that the aggregate gross 

operating revenues of the involved 

carriers exceeded $2 million during the 

12-month period immediately preceding 

the filing of the application, see 49 CFR 

1182.2(a)(5). (See Appl. 10–14.) 

Applicants assert that the proposed 

transaction will not have a material, 

detrimental impact on the adequacy of 

transportation services available to the 

public. (Id. at 11.) According to 

Applicants, BBS will continue to 

provide the same services it currently 

provides under the same name; 

however, going forward, BBS will 

operate within the holdings of 

Applicants, which are experienced in 

passenger transportation operations. 

(Id.) The transaction, combined with the 

passenger carrier management capacity 

of Applicants, is expected to result in 

improved operating efficiencies, 

increased equipment utilization rates, 

and cost savings derived from 

economies of scale within the 

Applicants’ subsidiaries, all of which 

will help ensure the provision of 

adequate service to the public. (Id.) 

Applicants also assert that the addition 

of BBS will enhance the viability of 

Applicants’ organization and its 

subsidiaries. (Id.) 

Applicants state that the impact of the 

transaction on the regulated motor 

carrier industry will be minimal at most 

and that neither competition nor the 

public interest will be adversely 

affected. (Id. at 14.) According to 

Applicants, the demand for school bus 

transportation and charter services in 

the area served by BBS is strong and is 

expected to increase in the foreseeable 

future. (Id. at 13.) BBS competes directly 

with other passenger service providers 

in the area it serves, which is a 

competitive market because of the 

significant number of national, regional, 

and local providers operating within the 

area. (Id.) Other providers include 

Student Transportation of America, 

First Student, Durham, Caring Hands, 

WW Berry Transportation, and Lamoille 

Valley Transportation. (Id.) Applicants 

add that BBS’s service area is 

geographically dispersed from those of 

the Affiliate Regulated Carriers and 

there is very limited overlap in the 

customer bases among the Affiliate 

Regulated Carriers and BBS.4 (Id.) 

Applicants assert that the proposed 

transaction will increase fixed charges 

in the form of interest expenses because 

funds will be borrowed to assist in 

financing the transaction; however, 

Applicants state that the increase will 

not impact the provision of 

transportation services to the public. (Id. 

at 12.) Applicants also assert that they 

do not expect the transaction to have 

substantial impacts on employees or 

labor conditions, and they do not 

anticipate a measurable reduction in 

force or changes in compensation levels 

or benefits at BBS. (Id.) Applicants 

submit, however, that staffing 

redundancies could result in limited 

downsizing of back-office and/or 

managerial-level personnel. (Id.) 

Based on Applicants’ representations, 

the Board finds that the acquisition as 

proposed in the application is 

consistent with the public interest. The 

application will be tentatively approved 

and authorized. If any opposing 

comments are timely filed, these 

findings will be deemed vacated, and, 

unless a final decision can be made on 

the record as developed, a procedural 

schedule will be adopted to reconsider 

the application. See 49 CFR 1182.6. If 

no opposing comments are filed by 

expiration of the comment period, this 

notice will take effect automatically and 

will be the final Board action in this 

proceeding. 

This action is categorically excluded 

from environmental review under 49 

CFR 1105.6(c). 

Board decisions and notices are 

available at www.stb.gov. 

It is ordered: 

1. The proposed transaction is 

approved and authorized, subject to the 

filing of opposing comments. 

2. If opposing comments are timely 

filed, the findings made in this notice 

will be deemed vacated. 

3. This notice will be effective on 

December 31, 2024, unless opposing 

comments are filed by December 30, 

2024. If any comments are filed, Van 

Pool may file a reply by January 14, 

2025. 

4. A copy of this notice will be served 

on: (1) the U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier 

Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590; (2) 

the U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust 

Division, 10th Street & Pennsylvania 

Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20530; 

and (3) the U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Office of the General 

Counsel, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 

Washington, DC 20590. 

Decided: November 12, 2024. 

By the Board, Board Members Fuchs, 

Hedlund, Primus, and Schultz. 

Zantori Dickerson, 

Clearance Clerk. 

[FR Doc. 2024–26686 Filed 11–14–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4915–01–P 

SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD 

[Docket No. MCF 21125] 

Traxx Coachlines Ltd., Quick 

Coachlines Ltd., and Vancouver Tours 

& Transit Ltd. C/B/A Charter Bus Lines 

of British Columbia—Amalgamation of 

Three Companies Into One Under the 

Name Traxx Coachlines Ltd. 

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board. 

ACTION: Notice tentatively approving 

and authorizing finance transaction. 

SUMMARY: On October 18, 2024, 

interstate passenger motor carrier Traxx 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
90342 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 221 / Friday, November 15, 2024 / Notices 

1Further information about TCL, QCL, and VTT, 

including U.S. Department of Transportation 

(USDOT) numbers, motor carrier numbers, and 

USDOT safety fitness ratings, can be found in the 

application. (See Appl., Exs. B, C, & D.) 

2More information about Applicants’ corporate 

structure and ownership can be found in the 

application. (See Appl. 1; see also id., Ex. A.) 

Coachlines Ltd. (TCL) filed an 

application for Board approval to 

amalgamate (merge) its assets and 

operations with those of Quick 

Coachlines Ltd. (QCL) and Vancouver 

Tours & Transit Ltd. c/b/a Charter Bus 

Lines of British Columbia (VTT) 

(collectively, Applicants). Traxx 

Holdings Inc. (Traxx) currently owns 

100% of the interest in TCL, QCL, and 

VTT, and Monarch Ventures Inc. 

(Monarch) currently owns 100% of 

Traxx. Upon completion of the 

proposed transaction, TCL, QCL, and 

VTT would merge into one entity— 

TCL—which would be 100% owned by 

Traxx. Monarch would continue to 

control Traxx. The Board is tentatively 

approving and authorizing the 

transaction. If no opposing comments 

are timely filed, this notice will be the 

final Board action. 

DATES: Comments must be filed by 

December 30, 2024. If any comments are 

filed, Applicants may file a reply by 

January 14, 2025. If no opposing 

comments are filed by December 30, 

2024, this notice shall be effective on 

December 31, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: Comments, referring to 

Docket No. MCF 21125, may be filed 

with the Board either via e-filing on the 

Board’s website or in writing addressed 

to: Surface Transportation Board, 395 E 

Street SW, Washington, DC 20423–0001. 

In addition, send one copy of comments 

to Applicants’ representative: Stephen 

P. Flott, Esq., Flott & Co. PC, 2200 

Wilson Boulevard, Suite 320, Arlington, 

VA 22201. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Jonathon Binet at (202) 245–0368. If you 

require an accommodation under the 

Americans with Disabilities Act, please 

call (202) 245–0245. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: According 

to the application, which was filed 

under 49 U.S.C. 14303(a)(1), TCL 

provides a broad range of charter, 

transit, and tourism-related services 

across western Canada. (Appl. 2.) The 

application further states that QCL 

specializes in cross-border 

transportation, primarily providing 

scheduled service on routes between 

Vancouver, British Columbia, the lower 

mainland of British Columbia, and SeaTac Airport in Seattle, Wash. (Id. at 2– 

3.) Applicants note that QCL’s services 

cater primarily to tourists and business 

travelers. (Id. at 3.) According to the 

application, VTT focuses on tourism 

services, providing sightseeing tours 

and charter services around Vancouver, 

British Columbia, and offering tourist 

destinations in the western United 

States. (Id.) Applicants assert that Traxx 

owns 100% of TCL, QCL, and VTT,1

and that, while each entity has 

maintained its unique branding, all 

operational management has been 

consolidated under Traxx, which, 

according to Applicants, has facilitated 

streamlined and consistent services 

across these entities. (Id. at 2.) 2

The application states that, except for 

TCL, QCL, and VTT, there are no other 

affiliated carriers involved in the 

application. (Id. at 4.) The application 

further explains that Applicants have 

entered into an amalgamation agreement 

(the Amalgamation Agreement) whereby 

TCL, QCL, and VTT will merge into one 

entity (including all assets, vehicles, 

and business operations) and operate 

under the existing brand, TCL. (Id. at 3.) 

According to Applicants, the 

Amalgamation Agreement is scheduled 

to close no earlier than November 1, 

2024, but in any event not before Board 

approval of this application. (Id.) 

Further, Applicants state that the goal of 

the proposed transaction is to enhance 

brand strength and simplify 

administrative processes while having 

minimal changes to the day-to-day 

operations of the applicable carriers. 

(Id.) 

Under 49 U.S.C. 14303(b), the Board 

must approve and authorize a 

transaction that it finds consistent with 

the public interest, taking into 

consideration at least (1) the effect of the 

proposed transaction on the adequacy of 

transportation to the public, (2) the total 

fixed charges resulting from the 

proposed transaction, and (3) the 

interest of affected carrier employees. 

Applicants have submitted the 

information required by 49 CFR 1182.2, 

including information demonstrating 

that the proposed transaction is 

consistent with the public interest 

under 49 U.S.C. 14303(b), see 49 CFR 

1182.2(a)(7), and a jurisdictional 

statement under 49 U.S.C. 14303(g) that 

the aggregate gross operating revenues 

of the involved carriers exceeded $2 

million during the 12-month period 

immediately preceding the filing of the 

application, see 49 CFR 1182.2(a)(5). 

Applicants assert that granting the 

application would have no adverse 

impact on the adequacy of 

transportation services available for the 

public. (Appl. 4.) According to 

Applicants, the proposed transaction 

involves the combination of three 

businesses owned and operated by 

Traxx. (Id.) Applicants state that TCL 

intends to continue the operations of the 

carriers essentially as they are now 

being conducted and that the public 

would not be affected by the transaction 

other than by a change in name for the 

applicable entities. (Id.) 

Applicants further state that this 

transaction would have no effect on 

total fixed charges, and that no carrier 

employees would be adversely affected 

by the contemplated transaction as there 

would be no change in the carriers’ dayto-day operations. (Id. at 4–5.) 

Based on Applicants’ representations, 

the Board finds that the merger as 

proposed in the application is 

consistent with the public interest. The 

application will be tentatively approved 

and authorized. If any opposing 

comments are timely filed, these 

findings will be deemed vacated, and, 

unless a final decision can be made on 

the record as developed, a procedural 

schedule will be adopted to reconsider 

the application. See 49 CFR 1182.6. If 

no opposing comments are filed by the 

expiration of the comment period, this 

notice will take effect automatically and 

will be the final Board action in this 

proceeding. 

This action is categorically excluded 

from environmental review under 49 

CFR 1105.6(c). 

Board decisions and notices are 

available at www.stb.gov. 

It is ordered: 

1. The proposed transaction is 

approved and authorized, subject to the 

filing of opposing comments. 

2. If opposing comments are timely 

filed, the findings made in this notice 

will be deemed vacated. 

3. This notice will be effective 

December 31, 2024, unless opposing 

comments are filed by December 30, 

2024. If any comments are filed, 

Applicants may file a reply by January 

14, 2025. 

4. A copy of this notice will be served 

on: (1) the U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier 

Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590; (2) 

the U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust 

Division, 10th Street & Pennsylvania 

Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20530; 

and (3) the U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Office of the General 

Counsel, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 

Washington, DC 20590. 

Decided: November 12, 2024. 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 221 / Friday, November 15, 2024 / Notices 90343 

1 In a concurrently filed petition for exemption, 

Carload, a noncarrier, seeks Board approval to 

acquire MDDE from Old Line. Pet. for Exemption 

1, Carload Express, Inc.—Control Exemption—Md. 

& Del. R.R., FD 36807. 

According to the verified notice, the purchase 

agreement further provides that Delmarva Central 

Railroad Company, a Class III rail carrier and 

subsidiary of Carload, will acquire from MDDE a 3- 

mile rail line that connects with the Line at 

Selbyville. See Delmarva Cent. R.R.—Acquis. 

Exemption—Line of the Md. & Del. R.R., FD 36805 

(STB served Oct. 4, 2024). 

By the Board, Board Members Fuchs, 

Hedlund, Primus, and Schultz. 

Stefan Rice, 

Clearance Clerk. 

[FR Doc. 2024–26678 Filed 11–14–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4915–01–P 

SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD 

[Docket No. FD 36806] 

Old Line Holding Company, Inc., d/b/a 

Old Line Railroad—Acquisition and 

Operation Exemption—Line of The 

Maryland and Delaware Railroad 

Company 

Old Line Holding Company, Inc., d/b/ 

a Old Line Railroad (Old Line), a 

noncarrier, has filed a verified notice of 

exemption under 49 CFR 1150.31 to 

acquire from The Maryland and 

Delaware Railroad Company (MDDE) 

and operate approximately 23.7 miles of 

rail line from milepost 42.0 in 

Selbyville, Del., to the end of the track 

at milepost 65.7 in Snow Hill, Md. (the 

Line). The verified notice states that Old 

Line is the parent company of MDDE, 

which currently operates the Line. 

According to the verified notice, Old 

Line, MDDE, and Carload Express, Inc. 

(Carload), have entered into a purchase 

agreement dated August 1, 2024, which 

provides that Old Line will acquire the 

Line from MDDE and that Carload will 

concurrently acquire MDDE from Old 

Line.1 Old Line states that, after 

consummating the proposed 

transaction, it will become a Class III 

rail carrier and operate the Line. 

Old Line certifies that the transaction 

does not involve any provision or 

agreement that would limit future 

interchange with a third-party 

connecting carrier. Old Line further 

certifies that its projected annual 

revenue will not exceed $5 million and 

will not result in the creation of a Class 

II or Class I rail carrier. 

The earliest this transaction may be 

consummated is November 29, 2024, 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 

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 no later than November 22, 

2024 (at least seven days before the 

exemption becomes effective). 

All pleadings, referring to Docket No. 

FD 36806, 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 Old Line’s representative, 

Thomas J. Litwiler, Fletcher & Sippel 

LLC, 29 North Wacker Drive, Suite 800, 

Chicago, IL 60606–3208. 

According to Old Line, this action is 

categorically 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 www.stb.gov. 

Decided: November 8, 2024. 

By the Board, Scott M. Zimmerman, Acting 

Director, Office of Proceedings. 

Brendetta Jones, 

Clearance Clerk. 

[FR Doc. 2024–26584 Filed 11–14–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4915–01–P 

SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD 

[Docket No. FD 36814] 

Raritan Central Railway, LLC—Lease 

and Operation Exemption— 

Consolidated Rail Corporation 

Raritan Central Railway, LLC (RCRY), 

a Class III railroad, has filed a verified 

notice of exemption pursuant to 49 CFR 

1150.41, to permit it to operate, 

pursuant to an amendment to a lease 

with the Consolidated Rail Corporation 

(Conrail), approximately 3,000 linear 

feet of rail line in Middlesex County, NJ. 

RCRY was previously authorized to 

lease from Conrail and to operate 7.08 

miles of rail lines, consisting of four 

segments, all in Middlesex County. 

Raritan Cent. Ry.—Lease & Operation 

Exemption—Consol. Rail Corp., FD 

36393 (STB served Apr. 3, 2020). RCRY 

states that under the existing lease, one 

of the segments, the Raritan Industrial 

Track (the Raritan I.T.), extends from its 

connection with the Bonhamton I.T. to 

the east side of Crows Mill Road, 

including the at-grade crossing thereof. 

According to the verified notice, Conrail 

currently operates on an additional 

3,000 feet of rail line beyond the leased 

segment, and RCRY and Conrail have 

agreed to amend the lease to extend 

RCRY’s lease and operation of the 

Raritan I.T. to include that additional 

3,000-foot segment. RCRY states that 

following the amendment, RCRY will 

provide common carrier service on ‘‘the 

Raritan I.T. from its connection with the 

Bonhamton I.T. to the west side of 

Route 440 at [milepost] 20.06.’’ (RCRY 

Verified Notice 2 (quoting the lease 

amendment).) 

RCRY certifies that the track lease 

does not impose or include an 

interchange commitment. RCRY also 

certifies that its projected annual 

revenues as a result of this transaction 

will not exceed $5 million annually and 

will not result the creation of a Class II 

or Class I carrier. 

The transaction may be consummated 

on or after November 30, 2024, the 

effective date of the exemption (30 days 

after the verified notice was filed). 

If the verified notice contains false or 

misleading information, the exemption 

is void ab initio. Petitions to revoke the 

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 no later than November 22, 

2024 (at least seven days before the 

exemption becomes effective). 

All pleadings, referring to Docket No. 

FD 36814, 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 RCRY’s representative, Eric 

M. Hocky, Clark Hill PLC, Two 

Commerce Square, 2001 Market Street, 

Suite 2620, Philadelphia, PA 19103. 

According to RCRY, this action is 

categorically excluded from 

environmental review under 49 CFR 

1105.6(c) and from historic reporting 

requirements under 49 CFR 1105.8(b). 

Board decisions and notices are 

available at www.stb.gov. 

Decided: November 8, 2024. 

By the Board, Scott M. Zimmerman, Acting 

Director, Office of Proceedings. 

Raina White, 

Clearance Clerk. 

[FR Doc. 2024–26697 Filed 11–14–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4915–01–P 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES