WASHINGTON – The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, which sponsors Amtrak’s Downeaster service between Brunswick, Maine, and Boston, says it backs CSX Transportation’s proposed acquisition of Pan Am Railways.
Amtrak’s Downeaster uses Pan Am trackage from the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border to Portland, Maine, and on to the passenger service terminus at Brunswick.
The passenger authority is backing the merger after CSX said it would uphold current service agreements, ensure that trackwork will be timed to minimize interference with Downeaster service, establish a streamlined procedure for seasonal schedule changes, and participate in good-faith discussions regarding potential expansion of Downeaster service.
CSX also agreed to abide by Pan Am agreements covering rail and station improvements at Portland and Wells, Maine, and a potential new passenger stop at West Falmouth, Maine.
CSX also will fund installation of positive train control on the Downeaster route in New Hampshire and Maine. CSX had previously said it planned to install PTC on the line.
“NNEPRA looks forward to a positive and productive relationship with CSX,” Patricia Quinn, the authority’s executive director, wrote in a filing to the Surface Transportation Board.
“This agreement demonstrates our commitment to work collaboratively with all stakeholders and to maintain or improve passenger service in the region,” CSX CEO Jim Foote said in a statement announcing the agreement.
It’s the second major show of support for CSX in Maine. Gov. Janet Mills recently backed the CSX-Pan Am deal, applauding the railroad’s plans to upgrade Pan Am trackage in the state.
Amtrak, which is jousting with CSX over resumption of passenger service between Mobile, Ala., and New Orleans, in June said it opposed CSX’s acquisition of Pan Am [see “Amtrak CEO voices opposition ..,” Trains News Wire, June 4, 2021]. “The acquisition of Pan Am by CSX represents a significant threat to the American traveling public which relies on Amtrak and our state partners to deliver frequent, reliable and sustainable intercity passenger rail service,” Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn said.
Your article states Amtrak objects because it is a threat to passenger transportation. But the article fails to list Amtrak’s justifications for this supposed threat.
I’m all for more passenger trains, but we need more details in your articles.
I agree with Gerald Mcfarlane Norforlk & Southern should have submitted a proposal to try and take over Pan-am they already work together and have an arrangement in sorts maybe its not to late to submit it one , it couldn,t hurt to try !!
Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.
Mark, Keolis is doing an excellent job running the MBTA commuter rail.
For better or worse, Massachusetts has a history with CSX.
Mr.McFarlane, yes absolutely NNEPRA and Gov. Mills should get “ironclad contracts” from CSX regarding the protection of Downeaster service. But Maine is being undercut by William Flynn, MA Congressman Richard Neal, and MassDOT. Now there’s no accounting for the no-nothings in Massachusetts. MassDOT are a bunch of idiots who have never had the cojones to to operate the Commuter Rail Division in-house like the NYMTA, NJT, and SEPTA do. And the latter, at least pre-COVID, operated more trains in a week than MBTA operates in 6 months. And Cong. Neal just wants to grandstand and show what a tough guy he is. “I can take on the big, bad, mean railroad and I’m gonna win”. And William Flynn and his lapdogs at the NARP/RPA? They are poisoning the well. Flynn wants to CSX to stop making trouble for the Gulf Coast initiative but then makes trouble and bad-mouths CSX on the other end of the country? And the losers at the RPA are all in to sic the STB and a few politicians, none of whom have probably ever ridden Amtrak for a legitimate transportation purpose, on the freight railroads and threaten them. This crap has got to stop! At least offer a carrot before you look for a stick. And yes absolutely mainline capacity and operating flexibility expansion is the key to delay-free Amtrak service.
Forgot to add, the NNEPRA should get anything CSX says in writing, and make sure it’s an ironclad contract, not just a letter stating they’ll do those things.
I’d reject the merger application downright…if anything, NS should’ve gone after Pan-Am, that would bring real competition to New England. Of course, personally I think Pan-Am should remain independent, but Timothy wants out.
Don’t believe CSX, it has no interest in anything but higher and higher profits for its Wall Street backers. It will screw the Downeasters at the first opportunity.
Probably sick of dealing with Pan Am.
Even CSX looks like an improvement.