192.52 Terminals and shops, removal.

(1)

(a) The term “shops" shall mean and embrace plants and locations where railroads engage in the general work of repairing, painting, overhauling or constructing locomotives, cars, coaches and other rolling stock and appurtenances thereto.

(b) The word “terminal" as employed in this section shall mean where trains are customarily and normally made up, or where train and engine crews on through trains are normally and customarily changed on the main line of any railroad operating in this state.

(3) No railroad company operating in this state shall remove its shops from the place where the same are now located to any other point within or without this state or permanently close any shops in this state without first having secured the consent and permission of the office for such removal, after due notice and public hearing, and in all other respects as provided for hearings in ch. 195. The office shall render its decision within 30 days after such hearing.

(4) No railroad company operating in this state shall remove or transfer its terminals or permanently close any terminals in this state without the permission or consent of the office after due hearing had on the matter, in compliance with ch. 195.

(5) Before any railroad company operating in this state shall make any removal or transfer of shops or terminals or abandons the same, it shall file notice of intention so to do with the office, and the office shall have the power to investigate whether such proposed removal, transfer or abandonment, as the case may be, is in the public interest and is not unreasonable or unfair as to the employees of such railroad company. No such removal or transfer shall be made during such investigation, or thereafter, if the office finds such removal, transfer or abandonment is not in the public interest or is unreasonable or unfair as to the employees of such railroad.

History: 1971 c. 164 s. 88; 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (9) (e); 1981 c. 347 s. 80 (1); 1983 a. 189; 1993 a. 16, 123; 2005 a. 179.