Great Lakes rail route

the car ferry is owned by a common carrier by water and operated as part of a rail route with the approval of the Surface Transportation Board; the stock of the common carrier by water, or its predecessor, was owned or controlled by a common carrier by rail prior to June 5, 1920; the stock of the common carrier owning the car ferry is, with the approval of the Board, now owned or controlled by a common carrier by rail; and the car ferry is built in and documented under the laws of the United States. Section 55102 of this title does not apply to the transportation of merchandise loaded on a railroad car or to a motor vehicle with or without a trailer, and with its passengers or contents when accompanied by the operator, when the railroad car or motor vehicle is transported in a railroad car ferry operated between fixed terminals on the Great Lakes as part of a rail route, if— (Source: (Pub. L. 109–304, § 8(c), Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1640.))