December 6, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATIONAL MEDIATION BOARD

Contact: NMB Public Information Line -- (202) 692-5050

Re: EMERGENCY BOARD CREATED TO INVESTIGATE DISPUTE BETWEEN METRO-NORTH AND CERTAIN OF ITS EMPLOYEES REPRESENTED BY CERTAIN LABOR ORGANIZATIONS

Washington, D.C. – Effective December 7, 2006, President George W. Bush established Emergency Board 240 to investigate a collective bargaining dispute between Metro-North Railroad (Metro-North) and certain of its employees represented by certain labor organizations.

Pursuant to the Railway Labor Act, the Emergency Board will conduct a hearing and make a recommendation for settlement within 30 days of the President's creation of the Board. No work stoppages are permissible for the 120 days following the date of the creation of the Emergency Board.