TRANSPORTATION

* Rail regulators gave final approval to a $10-billion plan to carve up Conrail routes and end 22 years of a congressionally created rail monopoly in the Northeast. The Surface Transportation Board’s 424-page decision was a formality, as the agency verbally approved the deal last month. But the official decision clears the way for dissatisfied individuals and groups to file federal lawsuits or ask the board to reconsider. Barring a successful challenge, CSX Corp. and Norfolk Southern Corp. can begin carving up Conrail as early as Aug. 22.