Until recently, a major steel rail facility in Pueblo, Colo. supplied a significant portion of rail used by several of the nation’s largest freight carriers. It was a reliable domestic source for one of the most essential components in the freight transportation system as well as for intercity passenger and commuter rail, which often ride on railroad lines owned by freight rail companies.

That changed this summer when a private equity group, Atlas Holdings, acquired the facility after its previous foreign (Russian) owner came under pressure from the U.S. government to divest. Atlas Holdings is a firm founded in 2002 that acquires, builds and operates distribution and manufacturing businesses. Rather than honor longstanding agreements that railroads depend on to plan maintenance and ensure safety, the private equity group immediately demanded drastic price increases — increases America’s freight railroads cannot and should not be forced to accept.

According to Trains Pro, a rail industry newsletter, in a story........

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