---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 11102"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "11102"
heading: "Use of terminal facilities"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/11102"
units:
  - "Subtitle IV — Interstate Transportation"
  - "Part A — Rail"
  - "Chapter 111 — Operations"
  - "Subchapter I — General Requirements"
---

# §11102. Use of terminal facilities

- (a) The [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) may require terminal facilities, including main-line tracks for a reasonable distance outside of a terminal, owned by a [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) providing [transportation](/usc/49/10102.md?p=9) subject to the jurisdiction of the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) under this part, to be used by another [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) if the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) finds that use to be practicable and in the public interest without substantially impairing the ability of the [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) owning the facilities or entitled to use the facilities to handle its own business. The [rail carriers](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) are responsible for establishing the conditions and compensation for use of the facilities. However, if the [rail carriers](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) cannot agree, the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) may establish conditions and compensation for use of the facilities under the principle controlling compensation in condemnation proceedings. The compensation shall be paid or adequately secured before a [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) may begin to use the facilities of another [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) under this section.
- (b) A [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) whose terminal facilities are required to be used by another [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) under this section is entitled to recover damages from the other [rail carrier](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) for injuries sustained as the result of compliance with the requirement or for compensation for the use, or both as appropriate, in a civil action, if it is not satisfied with the conditions for use of the facilities or if the amount of the compensation is not paid promptly.
- (c)
  - (1) The [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) may require [rail carriers](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) to enter into reciprocal switching agreements, where it finds such agreements to be practicable and in the public interest, or where such agreements are necessary to provide competitive rail service. The [rail carriers](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) entering into such an agreement shall establish the conditions and compensation applicable to such agreement, but, if the [rail carriers](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) cannot agree upon such conditions and compensation within a reasonable period of time, the [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) may establish such conditions and compensation.
  - (2) The [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) may require reciprocal switching agreements entered into by [rail carriers](/usc/49/10102.md?p=5) pursuant to this subsection to contain provisions for the protection of the interests of employees affected thereby.
- (d) The [Board](/usc/49/10102.md?p=1) shall complete any proceeding under subsection [(a)](#a) or [(b)](#b) within 180 days after the filing of the request for relief.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 102(a), Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 831.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 11103 of this title prior to the general amendment of this subtitle by Pub. L. 104–88, § 102(a).

A prior section 11102, Pub. L. 95–473, Oct. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 1419, related to classification of carriers, prior to the general amendment of this subtitle by Pub. L. 104–88, § 102(a).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Jan. 1, 1996, except as otherwise provided in Pub. L. 104–88, see section 2 of Pub. L. 104–88, set out as a note under section 1301 of this title.