Texas Central Business Lines Corp. v. City of Midlothian

LESLIE H. SOUTHWICK, Circuit Judge:

Texas Central Business Lines is a terminal and switching railroad operating in the City of Midlothian, Texas. In the fall of 2008, the railroad endeavored to expand its operations with two new projects. The City opposed that expansion, claiming it violated several municipal ordinances. In response, the railroad brought a declaratory judgment action alleging that a federal statute preempted all City ordinances that affect its transloading operations. Trans-loading is the transfer of commodities between rail cars and trucks, a process used when the ultimate…