Atchison, T. & S.F. Ry. Co. v. Railroad Comm’n, 283 U.S. 380 (1931)

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Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Co. v.


Railroad Commission of California
Nos. 470

, 471

, 472


Argued April 23, 24, 1931
Decided May 18, 1931
283 U.S. 380

APPEALS FROM THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA

Syllabus

1. The power of a state to compel interstate carriers to construct a union passenger station in a city is not superseded by the Interstate Commerce Act, except that the approval of the Interstate Commerce Commission must first be obtained, and its certificate of public convenience and necessity issued, with respect to rearrangement, extension and abandonment of tracks, and the use of the terminal facilities, involved in the proposed plan. P. 390.

2. An Act of Congress regulating a subject of interstate commerce to a limited extent is not to be taken as impliedly superseding state authority over matters not covered by it unless, fairly interpreted, it is in conflict with the state regulation. P. 392.

3. The power of the Commission to issue a certificate authorizing construction, acquisition, extension and abandonment of railroads (Interstate Commerce Act, § 1, pars. 18-21) may be invoked not only by carriers, but also by a state seeking to require carriers to construct a union passenger station terminal involving readjustments of trackage. P. 393.

4. An order of a state commission requiring railroads to construct a union passenger station in a large city at large expense held not repugnant to the due process or the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment in view of the full hearings given by the state and federal commissions and facts showing the inadequacy of existing facilities from the standpoint of public convenience and necessity, the nature of the plan proposed, and the importance of the interest affected and to be served. P. 394.

209 Cal. 460, 288 P. 775, affirmed. .

Appeals from judgments affirming orders of the Railroad Commission of California which required appellant railroad companies to construct a union passenger station in the City of Los Angeles, together with incidental connections, extensions, terminal facilities, etc. See also 190 Cal. 214, aff’d,264 U.S. 331; 280 U.S. 52.