The Surface Transportation Board announced Tuesday that it will hold a public field hearing on September 4 in Fargo, N.D., on the service problems in the U.S. rail network.

Farmers from the Dakotas and Sens. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., John Hoeven, R-N.D., and John Thune, R-S.D., have been raising the issues for months.

The board will direct the Canadian Pacific Railway Company (CP) and the BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) to appear at the hearing, and also invites impacted shippers, other Class I railroads, and other affected carriers to appear, the STB said in a news release.

The hearing will provide an opportunity “to hear from rail industry executives on their efforts to address service problems, and to discuss additional options to improve rail service,” as well as hear from the general public, the STB said.

The board will hold the public field hearing at 8 a.m. CDT on September 4, 2014, at the Hilton Garden Inn, 4351 17th Avenue S.

The STB noted that it held a hearing in Washington on April 10 and afterward issued orders requiring CP and BNSF to provide their respective plans and supporting data regarding the movement of fertilizer and grain.

The board’s Office of Public Assistance, Governmental Affairs, and Compliance has been working with rail carriers to address and correct service issues as they arise, the news release noted.

Those wishing to speak at the hearing in the case titled United States Rail Service Issues, Docket No. EP 724, must file with the board a notice of intent to participate no later than Monday.

▪ Surface Transportation Board — Docket No. EP 724, United States Rail Service Issues: Grain